Steven Mango – Press Coverage & Public Mentions
2014 – Scientology Exposé Goes Public
News.com.au (Jan 29, 2014) – “Steven Mango exposes what it’s like inside Hollywood’s Scientology Celebrity Centre.” This Australian news feature recounts how Mango moved to LA as a “fresh faced aspiring actor” but “got sucked into what he calls ‘Hollywood’s most dangerous, secretive and famous cult.’” It notes he spent four years in Scientology, donated over $50,000, and created a tell-all documentary to expose the church’s exploitation of members.
International Business Times UK (Jan 29, 2014) – “Ex-Scientologist Reveals Shocking Life Inside ‘Dangerous, Secretive Cult’.” This IBTimes article covered Mango’s self-made Scientology documentary, calling it “an eye-opening insight into the world of Scientology” . It details how he was drawn in by a bogus “acting” workshop and reveals the financial coercion he endured (over $50,000 in donations) during his time in “Hollywood’s most dangerous, secretive and famous cult”.
Studio 10 (Network Ten Australia, 2014) – Mango appeared on the national morning show Studio 10 in a segment titled “Inside The World Of Scientology: Steve Mango.” In this televised interview, he recounted his story as a former Scientologist, with the program teaser noting “Steve Mango claims Scientology almost destroyed his life” . This candid discussion on live TV introduced his experience to Australian audiences in a positive, sympathetic light.
Uproxx (Jan 27, 2014) – In an entertainment feature, Uproxx highlighted Mango’s journey with an article titled “An Aspiring Actor Joined Scientology Four Years Ago And Made A Documentary About The Experience.” Senior writer Ashley Burns notes that “an actor named Steven Mango…has made his very own documentary that details everything that he went through during the four years that he was a member of the Church of Scientology.” The piece explains how Inside the Scientology Celebrity Centre shows Scientology luring him with “acting courses” and “workshops,” only to “basically [come] down to money and how much the church could convince him to fork over”. This coverage brought Mango’s story to a broad online audience in a factual yet engaging tone.
The Underground Bunker (Tony Ortega’s blog, Jan 29, 2014) – Tony Ortega, an investigative journalist known for covering Scientology, reviewed Mango’s 2.5-hour YouTube documentary in a post titled “The best parts of Steven Mango’s ‘documentary’ on Scientology’s Celebrity Centre.” Ortega acknowledged the raw length of the video, but praised its substance – “some of what Mango has here is really remarkable.” He noted that “Mango is better than most former members at describing vividly what it’s like to be harassed day and night for money,” calling Mango’s accounts of Sea Org recruitment “visceral”. The blog went on to highlight the most striking revelations from Mango’s testimony, effectively endorsing the documentary’s impact.
2015–2017 – Documentary Feature & Continued Coverage
My Scientology Movie (2016/2017) – Steven Mango’s story became part of this BBC documentary film by Louis Theroux (premiered 2015 in London; US release 2017). Mango appears on-screen (as himself) alongside Theroux and other ex-members, re-enacting and recounting Scientology’s tactics. The film earned positive reviews , and media outlets singled out Mango’s contributions. For example, Esquire magazine’s review of My Scientology Movie highlighted Mango’s testimony as a standout revelation: “Former Scientologist Steve Mango explained that he was brought into the church through a ‘how to make it in Hollywood’ seminar… Eventually, he ended up becoming a full-fledged member… spending $50,000 through the years.” The article notes he even handed out Scientology pamphlets on the street during his involvement . His inclusion in Theroux’s acclaimed film further solidified his public profile, showing him as a key voice exposing the church’s celebrity recruitment practices.
The Underground Bunker (Dec 3, 2017) – In a piece by contributor Rod Keller, Ortega’s blog reported on Mango’s post-Scientology advocacy within the entertainment industry. Titled “Scientology loses another outlet for attracting young acting talent in Hollywood,” it describes how “Steven Mango is on a mission to help fellow actors avoid the trap he fell into when he was recruited into Scientology.” According to the report, Mango successfully lobbied major casting publications to reject Scientology’s deceptive “acting seminar” advertisements . He persuaded SAG-AFTRA (the actors’ union) and Actors Access (a casting service) to stop running Scientology recruitment ads, cutting off what had been a pipeline targeting aspiring performers. “I will do anything I can to prevent these starry eyed folks from being taken advantage of by Scientology,” Mango said of his efforts . This coverage cast Mango in a positive, proactive light – as an industry whistleblower protecting others – and included details of his campaign’s success.
ForenSeek Interview (May 23, 2017) – Niche blog ForenSeek – Mysteries, Crimes, Curiosities published an in-depth Q&A with Steven Mango, focusing on his experiences in Scientology. In the interview, titled “Interview with actor and ex-Scientologist Steven Mango,” he recounts his journey in his own words – from moving to Hollywood at 18 and getting ensnared via a “Breaking Into The Industry” acting workshop, to ultimately donating “over $50,000 during the course of my time in the cult.” Mango explains Scientology’s special appeal to artists, noting that L. Ron Hubbard “opened its Celebrity Centre to give a special place for artists” – only to exploit their dreams . He provides detailed insight into high-pressure “regging” (fundraising) tactics, abuses of trust, and the cult-like hold the organization had on him. This candid interview on a true-crime and curiosities site extended Mango’s reach to readers interested in cult phenomena, with Mango emerging as an informant shedding light on Scientology’s darker secrets.
Esquire (Jan 25, 2017) – Esquire’s entertainment section gave a positive nod to Mango while covering Theroux’s My Scientology Movie. In an article compiling the “most insane revelations” from the film, Esquire emphasizes Mango’s Hollywood-seminar story as a key example of the church’s bait-and-switch. It recounts how a naive Mango attended a “make it in Hollywood” class only to find himself watching a Scientology intro film that said he could walk out at any time – “but he could also choose to ‘dive off a bridge or blow your brains out,’ and that would also be his choice.” Mango eventually became a dedicated member, spending $50k and even “hand[ing] out pamphlets promoting Scientology to strangers on the street,” Esquire writes. The inclusion of Mango’s experience in a major magazine’s review underscores that his story resonated as a cautionary tale and was seen as a compelling part of the critically acclaimed documentary.
2019 – New Media Highlights
Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald (Podcast, May 9, 2019) – Steven Mango was a featured guest on Episode 338 of Juicy Scoop, the popular comedy podcast hosted by actress/comedian Heather McDonald. In the episode titled “Scientology Post Leah Remini, Real Housewives’ Sexual Confessions & Vanderpump Rules Reunion,” McDonald and Mango dive deep into Scientology’s secrets and its intersection with Hollywood. According to the episode description, “Steven Mango and Heather go deep into Scientology and explore Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, John Travolta and why Scientology does not value families.” Heather praises the depth of Mango’s insider knowledge – “Steven delivers so much juice about Scientology” – as he updates listeners on Scientology controversies and even draws parallels with then-current YouTube drama in the beauty community . This engaging, hour-plus interview allowed Mango to share his experiences and insights with a new audience in an upbeat yet informative format, and the host’s positive reaction (“so much juice”) attests to the compelling nature of his stories.
Ongoing YouTube Presence (2014–Present) – As a YouTuber, Steven Mango has continuously leveraged online platforms to discuss his experiences and other topics, which has in turn garnered media attention. His YouTube channel (originally Mangotology) gained traction through his viral expose documentary in 2014, and he has since produced content ranging from Scientology commentary to personal vlogs. Notably, Mango’s channel content has been referenced by outlets like Tony Ortega’s blog and shared within the ex-Scientology community. For example, Mango’s 2014 YouTube documentary accumulated millions of views and was a catalyst for much of the press coverage above. His on-camera advocacy and candid storytelling via YouTube and social media remain a cornerstone of his public persona, often blurring the line between content creator and activist.
Industry Reviews
"What separates Steven's natural, instinctive ability from all the rest is his level of commitment. Rarely have I seen an actor with such extraordinary focus, both on and off the camera. I have no doubt that this young talent is at the beginning of a long career." - Chris Jorie, On Set Acting Coach
Press Photos
To view press photos, visit my IMDB page.
