14 Famous People Who Follow Controversial Religions That You Didn't Know
Religion is not the most common topic for any celebrities to discuss when promoting their films, TV series, or music, but on certain occasions, celebrities have actually opened up about their religions.
This is sometimes done to convey how their faith has benefited them through difficult times or in their career. It's sometimes to expose traumatic experiences from their childhood and how they were raised. 14 celebrities listed below have all been involved with faiths that may be regarded as controversial, whether it's because their church's administration has been called into question or they were part of a literal cult.
Of course, not every one of these situations is similar, so take it from the celebs themselves. Continue reading to find out what these reputed members and former members have to say about their religions and beliefs.
The Guardians of the Galaxy star made news in 2019 after actor Elliot Page tweeted that Pratt was a member of an "infamously anti-LGBTQ" church, according to Variety. Pratt responded on Instagram, saying, "It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which 'hates a certain group of people and is 'infamously anti-LGBTQ.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens its doors to absolutely everyone."
The Handmaid's Tale actor hasn't said much publicly about her church membership, but in 2019, she told The Daily Beast, "Listen, it's a complicated thing because the things that I believe in, I can only speak to my personal experience and my personal beliefs. One of the things I believe in is freedom of speech. I believe we as humans should be able to critique things. I believe in freedom of the press. I believe in people being able to speak their own opinions. I don't ever want to take that away from anybody, because that actually is very important to me. At the same time, I should hope that people educate themselves for themselves and form their own opinion, as I have."
Close told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, "You were really not permitted to do anything, or you were forced to feel bad about any unnatural urge." Close returned to the United States when she was 15 and cut all links with the group when she was in her early twenties. "If you talk to anybody who was in a group that basically dictates how you're supposed to live and what you're supposed to say and how you're supposed to feel, from the time you're seven till the time you're 22, it has a profound impact on you."
When Hailey first became involved with Hillsong, she told Elle in 2020, "It started to feel like my own little community of people who were also young and following God and just immersed in a church community."
In 2008, Grammer told Hollywood.com, "I'm a Christian Scientist but I'm not a full-blown practicing one. I actually visit doctors and I do take medication. But a lot of the principles of my approach to faith are rooted in that, which is pretty much mind over matter if you want to reduce it to one thing."
Pfeiffer explained that her ex-husband, Peter Horton, was studying cults for a film project when she realized, "I was in one."
Patricia told Oprah Winfrey in 2011: "[Our parents] started it with a bunch of their friends, and they wanted kind of build this little utopian society, and David was born there on the commune. No electricity, no bathroom, I don't think there was running water even."
This is sometimes done to convey how their faith has benefited them through difficult times or in their career. It's sometimes to expose traumatic experiences from their childhood and how they were raised. 14 celebrities listed below have all been involved with faiths that may be regarded as controversial, whether it's because their church's administration has been called into question or they were part of a literal cult.
Of course, not every one of these situations is similar, so take it from the celebs themselves. Continue reading to find out what these reputed members and former members have to say about their religions and beliefs.
#1 Andrew Keegan
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#2 Chris Pratt
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The Guardians of the Galaxy star made news in 2019 after actor Elliot Page tweeted that Pratt was a member of an "infamously anti-LGBTQ" church, according to Variety. Pratt responded on Instagram, saying, "It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which 'hates a certain group of people and is 'infamously anti-LGBTQ.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens its doors to absolutely everyone."
#3 Elisabeth Moss
Source: DFree / Shutterstock
The Handmaid's Tale actor hasn't said much publicly about her church membership, but in 2019, she told The Daily Beast, "Listen, it's a complicated thing because the things that I believe in, I can only speak to my personal experience and my personal beliefs. One of the things I believe in is freedom of speech. I believe we as humans should be able to critique things. I believe in freedom of the press. I believe in people being able to speak their own opinions. I don't ever want to take that away from anybody, because that actually is very important to me. At the same time, I should hope that people educate themselves for themselves and form their own opinion, as I have."
#4 Glenn Close
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Close told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, "You were really not permitted to do anything, or you were forced to feel bad about any unnatural urge." Close returned to the United States when she was 15 and cut all links with the group when she was in her early twenties. "If you talk to anybody who was in a group that basically dictates how you're supposed to live and what you're supposed to say and how you're supposed to feel, from the time you're seven till the time you're 22, it has a profound impact on you."
#5 Justin and Hailey Bieber
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When Hailey first became involved with Hillsong, she told Elle in 2020, "It started to feel like my own little community of people who were also young and following God and just immersed in a church community."
#6 Kelsey Grammer
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In 2008, Grammer told Hollywood.com, "I'm a Christian Scientist but I'm not a full-blown practicing one. I actually visit doctors and I do take medication. But a lot of the principles of my approach to faith are rooted in that, which is pretty much mind over matter if you want to reduce it to one thing."
#7 Kirstie Alley
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#8 McKayla Maroney
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#9 Michelle Pfeiffer
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Pfeiffer explained that her ex-husband, Peter Horton, was studying cults for a film project when she realized, "I was in one."
#10 Rose McGowan
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#11 The Arquette family
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Patricia told Oprah Winfrey in 2011: "[Our parents] started it with a bunch of their friends, and they wanted kind of build this little utopian society, and David was born there on the commune. No electricity, no bathroom, I don't think there was running water even."
#12 The Phoenix family
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#13 Toni Braxton
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#14 Val Kilmer
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