Irwins Scientology shock! ck!
Our favourite family have been targeted by the controversial sect
They’re world famous, down-to-earth and adored by people young and old – and that, according to sources, makes the Irwins the perfect posterfamily for Scientology. In a bombshell report that will shock their Aussie fans, Woman’s Day can exclusively reveal wildlife warriors Terri, 52, Bindi, 18, and 13-year-old Robert are being targeted relentlessly by the controversial church, with Bindi being seen as particularly marketable.
“They want to make Bindi the poster child of Scientology,” an insider claims. “Bindi is very spiritual, especially after losing her dad at such a young age. But she is also very bright and intelligent and beloved around the world. She is an inspiration to people young and old – and there is no doubt Scientology would love to bring her on board.”
It’s no secret Scientology leaders lean on celeb figureheads to promote the church – Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley have long touted the religion in Hollywood. Now these new revelations about the Irwins have fans fearing the worst, with all signs pointing to the fact they may have already converted!
The Irwins are no strangers to Scientology, with Bindi’s wakeboarder boyfriend Chandler Powell, 20, having grown up in the Florida town of Seffner, just 40 minutes’ drive from Scientology’s world headquarters in Clearwater. Before meeting Bindi, Chandler attended the University of Central Florida, where many in his social circle were involved with the religion.
“Chandler had friends growing up who were Scientologists, and he has a very open mind about these things,” our source explains.
“He became friendly with a girl [at university] who was actively involved in Scientology. If there were ever arguments about it on campus, he was always very defensive about the religion.
“Although Bindi is very confident and outgoing, if Chandler has been saying good things about Scientology, Bindi will have surely taken notice.”
Chandler isn’t the family’s only link to the controversial sect. Bindi and Terri have been friendly with Scientology devotee John Travolta since 2008, after they met at a G’day USA event in New York, just 18 months after Bindi’s dad Steve died.
“Terri was starry-eyed to meet John,” the source reveals. “She has had a crush on him ever since Saturday Night Fever and Grease, and he was so sweet to her after Steve died. He was very supportive and really couldn’t do enough for them.”
Bindi picked a song from John’s cult movie Pulp Fiction while promoting Dancing With The Stars on US TV in 2015.
We’re told it was that very performance – and her winning the series – that made Scientology bosses sit up and take notice.
When contacted by Woman’s Day last week, Steve’s father Bob said, “I have my own personal thoughts on Scientology and better I don’t share those. I have no idea what Bindi and Bob are up to – so I’m not in a position to comment.”
Revelations about the Irwin’s association with Scientology come at a time when church leaders are intensely focused on increasing their membership in Australia. Just last year, the church unveiled its new $57 million Australian headquarters, located in Chatswood, Sydney. It’s thought Tom Cruise will visit the centre while here to promote his new movie The Mummy – alongside the Irwins’ close friend Russell Crowe – this week.
With the family dividing their time between Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast and the US – Terri’s purchase of a home in California for Bindi and Chandler earlier this year has only fuelled speculation they’ve been roped in by Scientology already – there’s no denying they’d make the perfect global ambassadors.
‘Chandler was always very defensive about the religion’