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ShamWow Guy's Other Claim to Fame: Ex-Scientologist

Infomercial pitchman used group connections to make comedy film

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 30, 2009 1:59 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Vince Offer Shlomi, the ShamWow pitchman who gained infamy after being arrested for badly beating a prostitute last month, is also a renegade ex-Scientologist, Gawker reports. Shlomi joined group in 1982, made connections with Scientology’s many entertainment-industry adherents, and found financing to start filming The Underground Comedy Movie, featuring such luminaries as Slash, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Joey Buttafuoco, in 1997.

Scientology, however, didn’t seem to like the project, and group officials began a smear campaign against Shlomi in 2004, eventually “convicting" him of unspecified charges in a Scientology court—featuring a 14-year-old judge—thus ousting him from the group and severing his Hollywood ties. Shlomi did eventually release his film and promoted it—like ShamWow—with infomercials, eventually selling 100,000 DVDs.

Vince Shlomi, after his arrest for beating a prostitute.
Vince Shlomi, after his arrest for beating a prostitute.
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
justapirate
Mar 31, 2009 6:12 AM CDT
Here's the full story: http://gawker.com/5191018/the-...
riffran
Mar 31, 2009 1:35 AM CDT
what no feauxhok shlomi?
Observer
Mar 30, 2009 10:18 AM CDT
Looks like the Hooker landed a few punches too. What's HIS name? Do not publish garbage like this again please.

Click for pictures of Shlomi's badly-beaten victim
Gawker

 
Scientology • commercials • infomercial • hooker • ShamWow

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