Shawn Lonsdale: Difference between revisions

In May 2007, Lonsdale appeared on [[BBC]]'s ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' program in a piece titled "[[Scientology and Me]]", and was interviewed about his experiences as a critic of Scientology by [[journalist]] [[John Sweeney (journalist)|John Sweeney]].<ref name="panorama">{{cite news | last =Sweeney, John | author-link =John Sweeney (journalist) | title =[[Scientology and Me]] | work =[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]] | publisher =[[BBC]], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6650000/newsid_6658000/6658089.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2 link] | date =May 14, 2007 }}</ref> When Sweeney asked Lonsdale why the Church of Scientology was publicizing derogatory things about him, Lonsdale replied: "They are trying to embarrass me. They try to paint you as crazy, so that no one will listen to you."<ref name="adie" /> During their interview, Tommy Davis arrived, opened a folder, and began to read out loud Lonsdale's criminal record.<ref name="adie" /> Later in the program, Sweeney was accused by Scientologist [[Tommy Davis (Scientology)|Tommy Davis]] of giving "convicted sexual pervert Shawn Lonsdale" a "soft interview".<ref name="adie" /><ref name="silver">{{cite news | last =Silver | first =James | title =Interview: John Sweeney - 'I can never again lose my temper on TV': His rant at a Scientology spokesman was a ratings winner, but the Panorama reporter insists there's more to him than just a loud voice| work =[[The Guardian]] | publisher =Guardian News and Media Limited | date =August 20, 2007 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/aug/20/mondaymediasection.bbc1 | access-date = 2008-02-29 }}</ref> Sweeney yelledlost athis Davistemper and lostbegan hisyelling temperat Davis, with both men shouting at each other back and forth.<ref>{{cite news | last =Sweeney, John | author-link =John Sweeney (journalist) | title =Scientology and Me: The battleground is YouTube and Scientology's weapon is a clip of me losing it in the "Mind Control" section of a gruesome exhibition | work =[[BBC News]] | publisher =[[BBC]] | date =May 13, 2007 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/6651231.stm | access-date = 2008-03-05 }}</ref> A Scientology-produced video of the incident was uploaded to [[YouTube]] and viewed over 856,000 times.<ref name="silver" />