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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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10

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

Infomercial pitchman used group connections to make comedy film

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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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10 comments
VIEWING:
 
oh he is a just crap. my friend thought he was a cutie Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
NutsInNY
Mar 30, 09 3:34 PM CDT
Nice screen name, icecreamicecreamcherryontopwhoisyourhoneybunch!
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AllisonMW
Mar 30, 09 4:46 PM CDT
As crazy as he looks and sounds, apparently. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Collusive
Sep 13, 09 2:46 PM CDT
what are talking about, he was obviously milking scientology solely for the Hollywood connections.
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0
anchower
Mar 30, 09 4:49 PM CDT
Michael Clarke Duncan is a luminary, damn you. Reply
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Click for pictures of Shlomi's badly-beaten victim
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