When you hear the word “cult,” what usually comes to mind? Perhaps shadowy figures and secret rituals? While some cults might resemble that image, many are much less obvious. They often center around particular lifestyles or sets of beliefs. What’s truly eye-opening is learning how many well-known celebrities have been connected to such groups. These associations sometimes lead to personal growth, but other times, they result in devastating consequences.
Let’s explore the stories of 10 celebrities whose lives took unexpected paths due to their involvement with cults. Their experiences are varied, ranging from spiritual exploration to dangerous manipulation.
10 Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer, celebrated for his roles in iconic films like Top Gun and The Doors, is a dedicated follower of Christian Science. This religious group emphasizes metaphysical practices, including a belief that all problems, including illnesses, can be overcome through strong faith and the right state of mind, connecting to what they call the Divine Mind.
In 2015, rumors surfaced about Kilmer battling cancer. He initially denied these claims. However, in April 2017, Kilmer stated that he had experienced a healing from cancer, attributing it to his faith and spiritual practices within Christian Science. He suggested that traditional medical treatments had actually worsened his condition, not the illness itself, which he believes was healed by his spiritual beliefs.
9 Allison Mack
Allison Mack, known for her role in the TV series Smallville, became deeply involved with NXIVM. Marketed as a multi-level marketing company offering personal and professional development seminars, NXIVM was later exposed as a coercive cult involved in sex trafficking and forced labor.
Mack played a significant role within NXIVM, allegedly recruiting women into a secret master-slave group. Reports indicated she used blackmail and forced labor to control members. She was also implicated in initiation ceremonies where victims were branded with the initials of the cult’s founder and her own. Mack was arrested in 2018 and, in 2021, was sentenced to three years in prison for her involvement.
8 Jaden Smith
Jaden Smith, son of actor Will Smith, is known for his unique perspectives and has shown support for Orgone, also linked to the Orgonite Society. Orgone is a concept introduced by Wilhelm Reich in the 1930s. Reich, an Austrian doctor and psychoanalyst, proposed Orgone as a universal life force or energy.
Proponents believe this energy is a fundamental, massless substance that forms the creative building block of everything in nature. It’s thought to be present in everything from microscopic organisms to large celestial bodies like planets and galaxies. Smith’s interest aligns with his broader exploration of alternative theories and spirituality.
7 Patricia Arquette
Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Arquette, known for roles in Boyhood and Medium, spent part of her childhood in a commune called Skymont Subud. Located in rural Virginia, this community aimed to live without modern conveniences like bathrooms or electricity. Their goal was for members to find and follow their inner spiritual guidance.
Subud was founded in Indonesia in the 1920s by Muhammad Subud Sumohadiwidjojo. It describes itself as a spiritual movement focused on helping individuals realize their true potential. However, Arquette has spoken about the inconsistencies she observed, particularly noting her parents as some of the biggest hypocrites. She eventually left the commune, stayed with her sister, and later moved to California to pursue her acting career.
6 R. Kelly
R. Kelly, once a celebrated R&B singer with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,” has a legacy overshadowed by numerous accusations of sexual abuse and criminal convictions. His actions led to revelations about a controlling environment that many have described as a cult.
Testimonies during his trials painted a disturbing picture. Witnesses described a system where Kelly exerted extreme control over young women. This included dictating what they ate, what they wore, and who they could contact. The environment was described as mentally and physically abusive. In 2021, Kelly was found guilty on multiple federal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking, effectively labeling his abusive operations as cult-like.
5 Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer, the acclaimed actress known for her versatile roles, had an encounter with a cult early in her career. When she was young and new to Hollywood, she fell in with a couple involved in Breatharianism. This group promoted the dangerous pseudoscience that humans can live without food and water, sustaining themselves solely on air and light.
Pfeiffer has admitted that the group took a significant amount of her money. Breatharianism, also known as Inedia, has led to deaths among its practitioners. Interestingly, Pfeiffer also mentioned that while the group was financially draining, her involvement helped her break some harmful addictions. This, in a way, cleared a path for her to focus on becoming the respected actress she is today.
4 Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder, celebrated for her unique roles in films like Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, experienced an unconventional childhood. At age seven, Ryder moved with her family to the Rainbow Family commune. This group consists of loosely connected individuals who gather to share experiences, music, food, and promote ideals of peace and love.
Inspired by events like the Woodstock Festival, these gatherings often involve prayer, meditation, and a focus on world peace. Ryder lived on a 300-acre plot in California that lacked electricity and other modern utilities. With limited access to the outside world, she spent much of her time reading. This period likely nurtured the vivid imagination that has defined many of her iconic performances.
3 Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix, the actor acclaimed for his intense roles in films like Joker and Gladiator, was born into a family deeply involved with the Children of God cult, now known as The Family International. His parents were missionaries, and the family traveled extensively across South America promoting the group’s beliefs, which included spiritual reformation and apocalyptic prophecies.
The Children of God became notorious for a practice called “flirty fishing.” Female members would use sexual intimacy to recruit new male members and solicit donations. This practice became a primary source of income and led to a significant increase in membership. Phoenix’s family eventually grew disillusioned with the cult’s distorted practices and left the group in 1978, returning to the United States.
2 Rose McGowan
Actress and activist Rose McGowan, known for her roles in Scream and Charmed, also spent her early years in the Children of God cult. Born in Florence, Italy, her father ran an Italian chapter of the group. McGowan traveled with her parents through Europe, living in the cult’s communes.
She has spoken openly about witnessing disturbing events, including sexual abuse and exploitation within the cult. Her family left the Children of God around 1978 and returned to the U.S. However, McGowan’s struggles continued. She ran away as a teenager and, at 15, legally emancipated herself from her parents. Her experiences undoubtedly shaped her later activism, particularly against abuse in Hollywood.
1 Glenn Close
The highly acclaimed actress Glenn Close, winner of Emmy, Golden Globe, and Tony awards, grew up under the influence of a group called Moral Re-Armament (MRA). Founded in 1938, MRA was an international movement that encouraged members to engage in political and social change, based on core principles of honesty, purity, selflessness, and love.
Close joined MRA at age seven when her father became involved. She spent 15 years with the group, living in communal conditions. Close has described it as a controlling environment where all her actions were scrutinized and she was taught to distrust her own instincts. She believes her career in acting became a way to understand and process the behaviors she witnessed, allowing her to explore the complex aftermath of such an upbringing.
These stories highlight the varied and profound ways cults can intersect with the lives of even the most public figures. From spiritual quests to damaging manipulation, the impact of these groups often leaves a lasting mark. The line between a supportive community and a controlling cult can sometimes be deceptively thin, and these celebrity experiences serve as compelling, and often cautionary, tales.
What are your thoughts on these celebrity cult connections? Did any of these stories surprise you? Share your reactions in the comments below!
