September 23, 2016 Mr. Paul Buccieri President
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
C HURCH OF S CIENTOLOGY I NTERNATIONAL September 23, 2016 Mr. Paul Buccieri President, A&E and History A+E Television Networks 235 E. 45th Street New York, NY 10017 Via Federal Express and Email Re: Church of Scientology Dear Mr. Buccieri: This week’s announcement in the media by A+E Television Networks (AETN) that Leah Remini’s reality television series is scheduled for release in 2017 underscores the need for AETN to meaningfully communicate directly with the Church of Scientology. We once again are offering to meet with AETN to ensure that the program is fair, balanced and accurate. Given the program will not air until next year, there is plenty of time to meet. I am disappointed not to have heard back from you. I do, however, feel that it is my obligation to continue to present to you information relevant to the decision by AETN to move forward with not one but two planned anti-Scientology programs. As I have expressed in my previous communications, Slauson Productions under IPC has ignored our efforts to have a meaningful dialogue. They have refused our simple requests, not responded to our letters and have made it virtually impossible to communicate. They refused any meetings, save for floating the ridiculous conditions that any meetings must consist of an on-camera discussion with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder—two individuals who have been expelled from the _________________________________________________________ 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA, 90028-6329 -2- A+E Television Networks September 23, 2016 religion, have proven animus and now seek to profit off their former religion. Slauson has not acknowledged receipt of any of the information we provided in response to the four general areas of inquiry they presented to us. Slauson also won’t give us the courtesy of providing an actual address or phone number for us to communicate to them. The only addresses provided have been a U.S. Post Office Box that returned mail addressed to Slauson Productions and a drop-off point at a local UPS Store in Culver City. I am writing you in the belief that it is mutually beneficial for AETN and the Church to discuss the issues before the program produced is anti-religious and discriminatory. Numerous other media including ABC, NBC, CNN and the New York Times were eager to meet with us prior to broadcasting or publishing pieces on the Church, because they were committed to attempting objectivity. We are confident that they will tell you they found the meetings helpful. We are hopeful that ITV/Sirens may use material we have given them to make a balanced program. We cannot say the same for IPC/Slauson. There is voluminous information we can provide that will assist AETN in making informed, objective decisions about any programming concerning the Church of Scientology, to ensure that it does not fall into the trap of spreading bigotry and hate about a religion practiced by millions around the world. I reiterate my request for a meeting. I am available to discuss. Best Regards, Karin Pouw cc: Ms. Nancy Dubuc Chief Executive Officer A+E Television Network .