Nathan Rich

Nathan Rich (born 13 February 1982) is an American author, Scientology critic and content creator known for the memoir Scythe Tleppo, which outlines growing up in Scientology and his battle with homelessness and addiction. He appeared on Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath alongside classmate Tara Reile about their experiences at the Scientology boarding school, the Mace-Kingsley Ranch School.

Rich is the only child of Julie Miriam Rich, a pet communicator who died from cancer in 2010. He completed only two school grades, seventh and eighth grades, at Dunedin Academy. He spent four years at the Mace Kingsley Ranch when he was 8 and 14 years old. At 17, he left home and was later disowned by his family. He spent seven years homeless while using and dealing drugs before attending community college.

Mace-Kingsley Ranch

At 8 years old, Rich was sent to the Scientology boarding school, the Mace-Kingsley Ranch in Palmdale, California, and then again at age 14. Rich alleges the Ranch was an abusive environment, with punishments including being scrubbed with a metal fence brush and paddling from the staff.

Documentaries

In October 2017 Rich appeared in episode 17 of the U.S. documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. Afterward, the Church of Scientology released a video featuring Rich's aunt and longtime Scientologist and author Sharon Rich and several other family members. In it, they said Rich was sent to the Mace-Kingsley Ranch because "the only other option was jail." Rich was 8 years old when he was first sent to the Ranch. They also produced documents showing Rich's arrest record.

Scythe Tleppo

In his 2018 book Scythe Tleppo, Rich describes growing up in Los Angeles in a Scientology family, drug addiction, and traveling the United States as a homeless man.

His aunt Arlene works at the Scientology organization, the Mace Kingsley Family Center, in Florida, while his other aunt is author Sharon Rich; both aunts appear in the Scientology attack video.

Rich has been living in China since 2014.Since moving to China, Rich has started a video blog which produces videos that "counter criticism of China" and have been described as being "pro-Beijing."