How It Started
On March 25, 2026, a TikToker named isDurpyy posted a video of himself running deep into the Church of Scientology Information Center in Hollywood, shouting "Xenu!" until he was escorted out. The video got millions of views and inspired imitators.
Around the same time, another creator named Swhileyy filmed himself running through the same building with a collaborator, getting deeper into back offices than anyone had before. That video was viewed 90 million times before it was taken down.
The concept borrowed from video game speedrunning culture—attempt to finish something as fast as possible while recording yourself. In this case: how far into a Scientology building can you get before security stops you?
The Escalation
What started as a novelty immediately escalated. Creators began one-upping each other, bringing air horns, attempting deeper penetrations, and timing themselves. Some used the videos to map out facility layouts. The Church reported property damage, knocked-over staff, and increasing disruption.
On April 25, 2026, dozens of people rushed into the Hollywood information center at once, leading to staff being knocked over and police reports for potential burglary and property damage.
By late April, the Church took defensive measures: they removed the door handles from the Hollywood location and eliminated public access. Despite this, the trend spread to other locations. By May, speedrun attempts had occurred in:
- New York City — Large groups of teenagers entered the Manhattan building on May 2, causing damage
- Vancouver — About 300 youth descended on the downtown location on May 2
- San Diego — Police thwarted a large speedrun attempt on May 2
- Seattle — Three teens broke in with a crowbar and were charged with second-degree burglary and hate crime
- Sydney, Australia — Two teens were arrested under the Youth Offenders Act on May 1
- Brisbane, Australia — About 200 people attempted to storm the building on May 9, hopping on police cars as the doors stayed locked
- International locations — Runs also occurred in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
The Legal Problem
The trend is increasingly being treated as a criminal matter. In Australia, participants have been arrested and warned about trespass and hate crime charges. In Seattle, three teens were charged with second-degree burglary and hate crime. The LAPD has investigated multiple incidents as potential hate crimes depending on what participants said or did.
A former police officer told the Los Angeles Times that participants colliding with Church staff are at legal risk of battery charges. Legal experts note that mass trespassing and property damage are actual crimes, regardless of whether someone recorded it for TikTok.
The Weird Politics
Responses to the trend have been split, especially among anti-Scientology activists:
Supporters: Some anti-Scientology activists say the runs are an effective form of protest, applying pressure and pushing for answers. One former Scientologist, Jenna Miscavige Hill, said the trend is disrupting Church recruitment efforts.
Critics: Actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini cautioned that the runs won't work because Church members are dedicated and radicalized. She argued the incursions would only confirm their beliefs and make them double down. Civil rights experts note that the trend plays into Scientology's narrative that the outside world is violent and disruptive.
After the trend went viral, Swhileyy (one of the originators) publicly urged others to stop.
The Broader Stupid
This trend exists at the intersection of several dumb decisions:
- Trespassing for views: Breaking into buildings and running through private spaces is a crime, regardless of the building.
- Mass escalation: When hundreds of people show up to do something dumb, it stops being a prank and becomes a mob.
- Recording yourself committing crimes: Post-conviction evidence is not a flex.
- Thinking this will change anything: The Church is not going to reform because Gen Z keeps running through their buildings.
Even if the Church of Scientology deserves criticism (and many argue it does), trespassing, property damage, and mob behavior are not the solution. They're crimes that give the Church ammunition to claim victimhood and justify increased security.
The Bottom Line
If you want to criticize an organization, do investigative reporting. Write. Speak. Vote. Don't run through their building and film it for TikTok. Especially if you don't want to get arrested.
Sources
Wikipedia: Scientology speedrunning
The Hollywood Reporter: How an 18-Year-Old TikToker's Scientology 'Run' Inspired a Trend
NBC News: Church of Scientology blasts TikTok 'speed running' trend as viral videos circulate
The Independent: Church of Scientology is mad teens keep running through their centers for TikToks