Editing Scientology controversies (section)

===''Scientology and Me''===
{{Main|Scientology and Me}}

In 2007 a [[BBC]] documentary on Scientology by reporter [[John Sweeney (journalist)|John Sweeney]] came under scrutiny by Scientologists. Sweeney alleged "While making our BBC [[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]] film ''[[Scientology and Me]]'' I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a 'bigot' by star Scientologists, brain-washed—that is how it felt to me—in a mock up of a [[Nazi]]-style torture chamber and chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers". This resulted in a video being distributed by Scientologists of a shouting match between Sweeney and Scientology spokesman [[Thomas W. Davis|Tommy Davis]].<ref>{{cite news| last = Sweeney| first = John| title = Row over Scientology video| publisher = BBC News| date = 14 May 2007| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6650545.stm| access-date = 2008-11-03| archive-date = October 20, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191020195423/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6650545.stm| url-status = live}}</ref> The Church has reportedly released a DVD accusing the BBC of organising a demonstration outside a Scientology office in London, during which "terrorist death threats" were made against Scientologists. The BBC described the allegations as "clearly laughable and utter nonsense".<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Stephen | title = BBC reporter blows his top at Scientologist | work = Daily Telegraph | date = 15 May 2007 | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1551457/BBC-reporter-blows-his-top-at-Scientologist.html | access-date = 2008-11-03 | location = London | archive-date = May 10, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190510135105/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1551457/BBC-reporter-blows-his-top-at-Scientologist.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Sandy Smith, the BBC programme's producer, commented the Church of Scientology has "no way of dealing with any kind of criticism at all".<ref>{{cite news
| last = Sweney| first = Mark| title = Panorama backs Sweeney episode| work = The Guardian| date = 14 May 2007| url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/may/14/bbc.digitalmedia| access-date = 2008-11-03 | location=London}}</ref>
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