[ed. - Eventually it would be revealed that "journalist" is Jennings Brown.]
"journalist" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion, July 30, 2019:
Hello. I am the journalist who has been mentioned in previous posts. It came to my attention that I have been referenced on this blog [the Fellowship of Friends Discussion, linked above]. I wanted to take the opportunity to speak for myself as there are some inaccurate statements about me. For starters, it seems people are overestimating the access I have had.
I am attempting to make a great effort to understand the Fellowship and its history. I aim to be as objective and neutral as possible. I come with no agenda and no preconceived notions.
I am not muckraking and I am not digging for dirt or criminal activity. I am not a spy, and I am not an agent for the Fellowship. I have no mission beyond understanding the community and being factually accurate. I think that anyone hoping for an exposé may be disappointed.
I am happy to speak to anyone who wants to share their experience. I think everyone who has been or who is currently involved in the community has a valid and important perspective that is worth sharing, if they choose to do so.
It seems that a lot of people believe the Fellowship has brought value to their lives. I also know that many people have had bad experiences. There’s a lot of nuance and complexity within this community that has had thousands of members over the course of many years.
Former and current members have reached out to me to talk. I’ve spoken to many people and I hope to speak to many more. If you would like to connect with me, or if you have any questions, please reach out.
"fofblogmoderator" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion, July 30, 2019:
Post #3 [above] is a new contributor. He has given me permission to post his email address and can be contacted at; journoj@protonmail.com.
[ed.- Below is some of the scuttlebutt, leading up to the "intervention" by said journalist. It has since been learned that "Cult Survivor's" statement below is disingenuous, as he had already met with the journalist when he posted the following comments. We are led to question his motives.]
"Cult Survivor" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 28, 2019:
Somebody told me that this weekend a journalist is visiting Apollo and interviewing current and former members for a documentary about the FOF.
Anybody knows anything about that?
"Cult Survivor" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 28, 2019:
I spoke with a person that is a former member but is still in touch with current members and he told me that the journalist interviewed people, had lunch with Robert and members outside the Galleria and attended a performance of “Much Ado About Nothing”. The plot thickens.
"Insider" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 28, 2019:
61-63. ["Cult Survivor" above]
Could be Fellowship PR. Probably much ado about nothing.
"Cult Survivor" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 28, 2019:
64. Insider [above]
I don’t think so. I was told that the journalist interviewed several former members and asked them if they knew about any “illegal activities”.
"Ocean Tiger" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 29, 2019:
This journalist who flies to and from New York to cover the Fellowship of Friends story called me and we spoke for about 20 minutes. I directed him to my series of videos [link added]. I heard Burton has a new biography coming out called “50 Years In Prison.”
"Insider" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 30, 2019:
63. Cult Survivor [above]
You wrote: “I spoke with a person that is a former member but is still in touch with current members and he told me that the journalist interviewed people, had lunch with Robert and members outside the Galleria and attended a performance of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. The plot thickens.”
I have been in contact with people who work in the Galleria and Apollo D’Oro kitchens. They tell me that, for all days up until the time you posted #63 above, Robert had lunch at Apollo D’Oro, not the Galleria, and that there was no “outsider” at his table.
I think your sources are lying to you. It now seems likely that whatever they told you about this “journalist” is untrue. And since you seem to be completely reliant on these “former members” for your information, I have to question just about everything you post here. Either they are bullshitting, or you are.
"Cult Survivor" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 30, 2019:
112. Insider [above]
I checked again and this time I was told that he sat at a a table close to Robert’s table outside the Galleria. You know how it is when you hear things second hand.
Anyway, is this really important? Next thing you will say is that the play that he attended was not “Much Ado About Nothing”, it was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” [ed. - which it was], so everything I say is BS.
Come on, man, chill out. I know you have a problem with me but let’s not take too much space here.
"Nancy Gilbert" wrote on the Fellowship of Friends Discussion blog, July 30, 2019:
63. Cult Survivor [above]
When I read your post about RB having lunch, etc. with an outsider, especially a journalist, I immediately had red flags come up as to the validity of this information. Those of us who have been in the FoF know very well that RB never exposes himself to ‘outside people and forces’ unless they have been fully vetted by his protectors. He borders on the paranoid. This is not credible information and you need to verify the reliability of your so-called ‘source’. Gossipy, unsubstantiated and questionable rumors such as this are not useful on this blog, IMO.
"Cult Survivor" July 30, 2019
115. Nancy Gilbert [above]
I was a server at the Galleria for many years and saw Robert having lunch outside the Galleria several times with people that were non-members, like Bolshoi/Mariinsky ballet dancers, friends of the ballet dancers, friends of rich members, etc., so it’s not unheard. At any rate, the information is corrected now.
