Inside 'Scientology speedruns,' the viral trend prompting the church to bolster security
The viral stunt has led to multiple LAPD responses after participants filmed timed runs through Church of Scientology buildings and mapped their interiors.
- Viral TikTok videos show participants 'speedrunning' through Church of Scientology buildings in Los Angeles, recording themselves navigating facilities as if in a video game. The trend involves unauthorized entries into multiple properties.
- Scientology, a religion based on Ron Hubbard's 1950 book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, views the stunts as harassment. Spokesperson David Bloomberg called the trend 'trespass, harassment and disruption of religious facilities.'
- The Los Angeles Police Department has responded to multiple incidents in the past month, investigating one witnessed by Buensuceso as an alleged hate crime. Some Scientology buildings removed door handles to prevent unauthorized entry.
- In Vancouver and New York City, chaos erupted as youths stormed Scientology buildings, expanding the movement internationally. Actor Leah Remini, who left the organization in 2013, criticized participants on X, stating such actions are 'unhelpful' and 'unwittingly helping Scientology.'
- The Church attracts celebrity followers including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, fueling online fascination with the trend. Actor Charley Tenorio, 20, noted jokes about finding Cruise at the top of buildings, though Scientology maintains the speedruns pose security risks.
12 Articles
12 Articles
On TikTok, more and more users post how they run in Scientology buildings until they are asked to leave.
Content creators are behind a TikTok trend that provokes indignation among followers of a religious movement: Scientology speedrun, which consists of infiltrating into a scientology church in the race.
People across the US are ‘speed-running’ into Scientology buildings
Viral TikTok videos of people dashing through Church of Scientology centers in multiple cities are circulating online. And while the Gen Z pranksters believe it’s harmless fun, the famously secretive religious group wants real consequences.What are the videos about? The videos feature “participants recording themselves ‘speed-running,’ as if in a video game, through Scientology’s buildings,” said NBC News, often “dodging screaming church members…
The new trend -Scientology speedrun, born last March, travels around the world. It consists of introducing itself as quickly as possible inside a scientology church, and going as far as possible.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium





