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rrmoderator
What is it about cults and extreme groups that attracts so many celebrities? Hollywood seems to be overflowing with such groups and stars flock to them.
I don't think that proportionally or statistically celebrities are more involved in cults than the general population. It's just that you hear about it more often. If Joe Schmoe joins a cult, no one knows or cares besides his immediate family. But if a celebrity does, it's news. In fact, even if a celebrity belches or sneezes, it makes the news.
As to why celebrities join cult-like groups, it's because their privileged status lets them be treated like stars there too. Celebrities don't have to put up with the abusive crap that your average cult follower is subjected to. They are treated differently because they're valuable.
My friend who was kicked out of Syda (Gurumayi's organization) tells me that one time John Denver came to visit the ashram. He traipsed through a sacred temple with his shoes on, which is considered sacriligious, but no one dared tell him to take his shoes off. Any other devotee would have been given a really hard time about doing something like that.