John Travolta Spotted Near Scientology HQ Days Before Kelly Preston's Death
By Gary Trock on July 13, 2020 at 6:16 AM EDT
Kelly Preston / Instagram
John Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, is dead at the age of 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer, and now many questions remain as to what her treatment was, and if the Church of Scientology influenced her medical decisions. In an interesting update, it seems Travolta was actually visiting near the main Scientology center in Clearwater, FL just days before his wife died.
Veteran reporter, and longtime Scientology combatant, Tony Ortega, posted a photo just hours after Preston's death was announced showing the "Grease" star near the Scientology HQ.
On Sunday evening, it was announced that Preston had passed away, and came as a complete shock as most did not know she was suffering from cancer. During a moving tribute to his wife, John Travolta thanked the doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, located at the University of Houston in Texas. MD Anderson also has facilities in California, New Jersey and Arizona, as well as one in Jacksonville, Florida.
According to Ortega's online publication, "The Underground Bunker," he was sent a photo of Travolta hanging out in downtown Clearwater, Florida on Thursday, 3 days before Preston's death.
Gettyimages | Kevin Tighe
It's unclear where exactly Preston was when she passed away, but Ortega notes that traveling from Clearwater wouldn't be an issue for Travolta, as he is an accomplished pilot and owns multiple aircraft. The Travolta's main home is in Ocala, Florida and has been publicized over the years for having its own runway.
Clearwater is interesting, however, as it is the headquarters for the Church of Scientology, which Travolta has been a longtime member of. Although not as public about the church as Tom Cruise, the Travolta family has been just as active throughout the years in supporting and funding the mysterious organization.
Gettyimages | Tim Boyles
The Travolta family has dealt with loss and pain before, most publicly back in 2009 when their son Jett died while on vacation in the Bahamas. Jett, who was Autistic, died from Kawasaki disease, and the Church of Scientology was thrust into the spotlight after his death by those questioning whether the church's beliefs stopped proper medical treatment and care.
According to Ortega, the church also made sure to keep a close eye on the Travolta family to make sure that they did not leave during their time of grief. Although Travolta's appearance in Clearwater has not yet been explained, it's possible the "Pulp Fiction" star was seeking guidance as the family braced for the loss of Preston.
Gettyimages | Epics
Officials from The Church of Scientology have long dealt with criticism from the public, and have a space on their website that addresses many of the common concerns and questions. One of them specifically deals with medical treatment and states that the church does not stop their members from seeking traditional forms of medicine.
"The Church of Scientology has always had the firm policy of not diagnosing or treating the sick. Medical doctors are trained to deal with the physical aspects of illness and injury. A Scientologist with a physical condition is advised to seek and obtain the needed examination and treatment of a qualified medical professional. Independent of any medical treatment, a Scientologist then addresses any accompanying spiritual trauma connected to that condition."