Church of Scientology Falls Victim to New TikTok Trend

A door-handle-free Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard is the latest sign of a TikTok stunt turning into a law-enforcement headache. Viral clips show mostly young people dashing through Church of Scientology sites in Hollywood as if they're levels in a video game, filming themselves as staff and security shout at them to leave, NBC News reports. The church has condemned the trend—dubbed "Scientology speed running," per Forbes—as trespassing and harassment, saying participants have barged into multiple facilities, knocked down staff, damaged property, and put parishioners and visitors at risk.

Los Angeles police say they've stepped up patrols around Scientology locations and are probing some cases as possible hate crimes, depending on what was said during the runs. At least two suspects from a large Saturday incident—where dozens of people, some in costumes and masks, stormed the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition—are wanted on suspicion of burglary and felony vandalism. The user credited with sparking the trend, an 18-year-old who goes by "Swhileyy," tells the Hollywood Reporter he never urged copycats and thinks they should stop. Former Scientologist and critic Leah Remini is also urging an end, warning the stunts may reinforce the secretive church's siege mentality.