18-Year-Old TikToker’s Scientology “Run” Accelerates Viral Trend Amid Controversy

On March 31, an 18-year-old content creator known as Swhileyy, pronounced “Swiley,” made headlines after jogging through the lobby of a Church of Scientology building in Hollywood. The incident, which involved him laughing as a staff member instructed him to leave, quickly gained traction online.

Swhileyy’s brief escapade, which lasted under a minute, has since amassed approximately 90 million views across his social media accounts. Including reactions and reposts, he estimates the total view count is in the hundreds of millions.

The Rise of the “Deep Run” Trend

Just weeks after the incident, the so-called “Scientology run,” referred to in the creator community as “deep runs,” has evolved into a recognizable format. This trend is currently under investigation by the LAPD. Swhileyy expressed his concerns about the direction the trend has taken, stating that it has transformed into something he no longer recognizes.

He clarified, “I do not condone what I did, even though I didn’t break any laws. All I did was explore the building. I was never asked not to come back to the premises.”

Swhileyy, who prefers to keep his legal name private, grew up in California but not in Los Angeles. He moved to the city last year to spend time with friends and began creating content while wearing Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. His first viral post featured a homeless man conversing with himself, which garnered over 50 million views.

Content Creation Journey

Following that initial success, Swhileyy shifted his focus to street-interview videos, initially targeting the homeless population around Skid Row, then expanding to include various performers and characters in Hollywood. He often compensated the subjects of his videos and utilized a portion of his ad revenue to provide meals, sometimes organizing events where he and other creators fed nearly 100 people at a time.

“I felt like I was able to do some good with the money I was making,” he remarked.

The Scientology incident began when Swhileyy encountered Streets LA, a vocal critic of the organization, who shared insights about Scientology. Intrigued, Swhileyy filmed a staff member selling him a book during his visit to the Church of Scientology International building on Hollywood Boulevard, which also went viral.

“From there on out, I pretty much knew that Scientology was like a free gateway to a lot of views,” he noted.

The March 31 Collaboration

A fellow creator, Alex, known as isdurpyy on TikTok, invited Swhileyy to participate in a second run, which took place on March 31. This collaboration marked a significant escalation in the trend’s popularity.

In the weeks following, multiple groups of teenagers attempted to replicate the stunt, though Swhileyy criticized their execution. He recounted an incident where a group of five individuals allegedly broke into the building, creating chaos and reportedly pushing a Scientologist to the ground.

Another incident in Clearwater, Florida, involved a teenager who shot out a window of the local Scientology church with a BB gun, leading to an arrest.

“I never once in any video or any comment section or anywhere promoted the idea of running through there or beating my record,” Swhileyy stated. He has declined requests from other creators to collaborate on similar runs, emphasizing that such actions are unwise.

Distancing from Copycat Actions

Swhileyy expressed strong disapproval of the actions taken by copycats, labeling their behavior as reckless. He stated, “What they did was, and in my words, quoted, ‘Fucking retarded.’ They should not have done that shit.”

Despite the viral nature of his original video, Swhileyy has not sought legal counsel regarding the incident. He acknowledged the Church of Scientology’s reputation for being litigious but maintains that he did not engage in any unlawful behavior.

“Unless they have a note sending in the mail right now, I really didn’t do anything. I’ve always been polite to them,” he added.

Swhileyy is careful to differentiate himself from other creators who frame similar stunts as activism. He clarified, “I didn’t do this whatsoever to come out against them or anything, even though that’s kind of what it looks like. Not once did I say it’s a cult or get out or anything like how the other people do it.”

Future Aspirations

Recently turned 18, Swhileyy humorously remarked on aging too quickly. While he remains open to opportunities in acting or influencer work, he is not actively pursuing a Hollywood career, stating that there are other avenues he finds more practical for a better return on investment.

The Church of Scientology has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incidents.

As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.

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Published on 2026-04-24 03:10:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk