Nathan Rich (born February 13, 1982) is an American YouTuber with half a million subscribers, author, and Scientology critic. He appeared on Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath alongside classmate Tara Reile about their experiences at the Scientology boarding school, the Mace-Kingsley Ranch School.[2][3]
Nathan Rich | |
|---|---|
 Rich in 2019 | |
| Born | February 13, 1982 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Hotpot King (火锅大王) |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Criticism of Scientology |
| Television | Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath |
| Relatives | Sharon Rich (aunt) |
| Website | hotpot |
Early life and education
Rich is the only child of Julie Miriam Rich, a pet communicator, who died from cancer in 2010.[1][2] He completed only two school grades, seventh and eighth grades, at Dunedin Academy. He spent four years at the Mace-Kingsley Ranch when he was 8 and 14 years old. At 17, he left home and was later disconnected by his family.[4][5] He spent seven years homeless while using and dealing drugs[2] before attending community college.[1]
Scientology
Mace-Kingsley Ranch
At 8 years old, Rich was sent to the Scientology boarding school, the Mace-Kingsley Ranch in Palmdale, California, and then again at age 14.[3][2] Rich alleges the Ranch was an abusive environment, with punishments including being scrubbed with a metal fence brush and paddling from the staff.[1][2][3]
Documentaries
In October 2017 Rich appeared in episode 17 of the U.S. documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.[1]
Autobiography
In 2018, Nathan Rich published a book about his experiences in Scientology and at the Mace-Kingsley Ranch, titled Scythe Tleppo: My Survival of a Cult, Abandonment, Addiction and Homelessness.[6] According to reviewer Tony Ortega, "Scythe Tleppo is a roller coaster ride between these moments of clarity and one shocking scene after another told in brutal detail about the ways Nathan was abused, the ways he abused himself, and his ever downward spiral to homelessness and near-suicidal drug use."[7]
Personal life
Since moving to China, Rich has started a video blog sympathetic to the People's Republic of China.[8][9] Among the views he holds are that those who had taken part in the Hong Kong protests were "terrorists" and "right-wing",[10] and that Taiwan was an integral part of China and could therefore not be a state.[11] He has also commented on the China–United States trade war[12] and China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Bentley, Jean (October 10, 2017). "'Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath' Investigates Church's Treatment of Children". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
Third-generation Scientologists Nathan Rich and Tara Reile both attended the New Mexico Ranch in the late '90s, and outlined some of the treatment they say they received there.
- ^ a b c d e Sanders, Ash (June 24, 2019). "Children of Scientology: Life After Growing Up in an Alleged Cult". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c Minnis, Glenn (October 11, 2017). "Leah Remini Blasts Scientology Over Treatment Of Young Children". Inquisitr. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ "Scientology 3rd Gen Nathan Rich Tells His Horror Story of Surviving Scientology". Surviving Scientology Radio. September 28, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2019 – via iHeartRadio.
- ^ Carolla, Adam (December 10, 2018). "TAK 210 - Nathan Rich". The Adam Carolla Show (Podcast). Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ Rich, Nathan (2018). Scythe Tleppo: My Survival of a Cult, Abandonment, Addiction and Homelessness. Dynasty Systems. ISBN 9781949629996.
- ^ Ortega, Tony. "Sharp new memoir digs into Scientology's toxic cruelty experienced by those who grow up in it". The Underground Bunker. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ Wertime, David. "China just won the first U.S. presidential debate". POLITICO. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Jung, Chauncey. "Restricting Chinese Journalist Visas Will Not Stop China's Propaganda Campaigns". thediplomat.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Li, Jane (November 13, 2019). "China's messaging against the Hong Kong protests has found a new outlet: Pornhub". Quartz. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Taiwan News (April 28, 2020). "Dream Lucid refutes Nathan Rich's claims that Taiwan belongs to China | Taiwan News | 2020/04/28". Taiwan News. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Erlich, Reese (August 8, 2019). "Foreign Correspondent: The U.S. Trade War with China is Not Going So Well". The Progressive. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ Initium Media (June 22, 2020). "WeChat Or Chinese Journalists: Who Is Doing China's Bidding Abroad?". Worldcrunch. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
