Sebastian the Scientology Recruiter

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Overview

Sebastian the Scientology Recruiter or Sebastian the Scientologist is a Scientology recruiter who stands outside of the Church of Scientology Information Center in Los Angeles on Hollywood Boulevard and attempts to recruit passersby into Scientology. Sebastian went viral on TikTok in late 2023 as anti-Scientology content creators filmed their attempts to stop him from recruiting people and quit Scientology. As Sabastian's presence in the videos grew, the "Free Sebastian" movement began under the hashtag "#FreeSebastian," looking to get Sebastian out of Scientology. TikTokers also began posting edits of Sebastian and thirsting over him for his perceived good looks.

Online History

Sebastian first notably appeared in a video posted by TikToker^[1] @streets.l.a on September 1st, 2023. In the video, the TikToker stands outside of the Church of Scientology Information Center in LA and tells all potential recruits that approach Sebastian that Scientology is a cult, also making fun of Sebastian and a security guard for the center, garnering over 236,000 views in four months (shown below).

@streets.l.a Interfering with scientology’s efforts to recruit unsuspecting people. #hollywood #scientogists #scientology #wheresshelly ♬ original sound – StreetsLA

Sebastian continued to appear in many of @streets.l.a's videos as he continued to discourage people from joining Scientology outside the center. On October 6th, the TikToker^[2] uploaded a video where he records Sebastian and makes fun of his tight shirt and oversized shoes, garnering over 10 million views in three months (shown below, left). On December 23rd, the TikToker^[3] posted a video where Sebastian calls him a liar, garnering over 1.3 million views in three weeks (shown below, right).

@streets.l.a Making some scientologist recruiters scatter on Hollywood blvd. #scientology #scientologists #dianetics #firstamendment #firstamendmentaudit #whereisshelly ♬ original sound – StreetsLA

@streets.l.a Sebastian the Scientologist recruiter called me a liar. #scientologytok #scientologytortures #PackItUp #Gotem ♬ Cool hip hop beat(1208554) – G-HIKARU

As the TikToker's videos became increasingly popular, other TikTokers began doing the same thing in front of the Center, with their videos often featuring Sebastian as well. On December 26th, 2023, TikToker^[4] @samaraleilani posted a video talking with Sebastian, garnering over 65,000 likes in two weeks (shown below).

@samaraleilani Wanna make @StreetsLA proud🫶 #scientology #churchofscientology #scientologytok #sebastianscientology ♬ original sound – Samara Leilani

Online Presence

#FreeSebastian Movement

As early as December 11th, 2023, TikTokers began to use the hashtag "#FreeSebastian" on video edits of Sebastian, often edits thirsting for him, to support efforts to free him from Scientology. On that day, TikToker^[5] @realsebastianscientology posted a video that gained over 17,000 views in a month (shown below).

@realsebastianscientology free sebastian 😩 #scientologist #scientologycult #scientology #sebastian #sebastianscientology #angelscientology #freesebastian ♬ original sound – sebastian

On December 26th, TikToker^[6] @freemymansebastian posted a video edit of Sebastian clips, garnering over 24 million views in three weeks (shown below, left). On December 29th, TikToker^[7] @honeymoooon60 posted a clip of a TikToker talking with Sebastian, encouraging him to leave Scientology, garnering over 2 million views in two weeks (shown below, right).

@freemymansebastian His smile is the best 🫣😌 #FreeSebastian #scientology #sad #streetsla #cult #secta #scientologists ♬ Cry – Cigarettes After Sex

@honeymoooon60 There is hope for sebastian♥️ thank you @LA_Kam for being so kind to him unlike the others. #fyp #savesebastian #scientologytok #scientologyisacult #savesebastian #angelmiranda #freesebastian #ldr #losangeles #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – Mr. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard

Some TikTokers known for standing outside the Center and discouraging potential recruits have opposed the "Free Sebastian" movement. For example, on January 4th, 2024, TikToker^[8] @jessicapalmadessa posted a video filming Sebastian trying to recruit two young women who she believes are minors, using it as an example of why people shouldn't "feel bad" for Sebastian, garnering over 17,000 likes in a week (shown below).

On January 10th, Rolling Stone^[9] notably reported on Sebastian and the Free Sebastian movement.

@jessicapalmadessa This is why we dont feel bad for sebastian #fyp #jessicapalmadessa #scientology #scientologytok #lronhubbard #hollywood ♬ original sound – Jessica Palmadessa