Is Scientology behind Mariah Carey and James Packer’s split?

Sources close to the superstar say she believes Packer’s business manager Tommy Davis, a former Church of Scientology spokesman, has poisoned their relationship.

Insiders in Carey’s camp claim Davis has taken control of Packer’s finances, and even allege he has put the billionaire on a detoxification program known at the church as a “Purification Rundown” and ordered Packer to “disconnect” from the diva.

Sources close to Packer, 49, strongly deny this and say his split with Carey, 46, was due to her excessive spending and the drama surrounding her as she films a reality show for E!

Carey was stunned when she was asked to leave the Packer’s yacht in Greece in September and was then ordered to move out of his California home immediately.

A source close to Carey explained, “Mariah and James were looking at homes in Beverly Hills to buy together in August, everything was fine, he was saying she was his soulmate, and he couldn’t wait to marry her. Then suddenly he changed. In September, James suddenly seemed not like himself at all. Mariah is suspicious of Tommy, who has been managing James’ finances, and she suspects he is controlling him.”

Packer — who was a Scientologist between 2002 and 2006 — seemed a different person when Carey joined him on his yacht in Greece in mid-September. The source continued, “Mariah’s manager Stella [Bulochnikov] clashed with Tommy, and she demanded to know what was going on. James was acting so strange that Mariah asked him directly, ‘What is going on, are you back in Scientology?’ Then she was told by his staff, ‘James isn’t well and he doesn’t want you to see him like this, so please leave.’”

Carey returned to LA and checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel, and she and Packer haven’t spoken since. The source added, “Mariah was stunned. To see the man you are going to marry change overnight. It was like he was a different person. She became very concerned and didn’t know how to deal with his sudden change of heart. It is heartbreaking for her.”

The source added that Davis looked into Packer’s finances and flagged how much he was spending on Carey. “Tommy started asking James, ‘Why are we buying Mariah this dress for this event? Why are we paying for her hair and makeup?’ She’s Mariah Carey, for goodness’ sake, of course she needs dresses, hair and makeup! Mariah also believes that Tommy advised James not to buy a new home for Mariah, and that he was behind her being ordered to move out of their home.”

A source close to Packer responded to the claims that Davis poisoned his relationship with Carey, “This isn’t true. James is not a part of the Church anymore. Tommy wasn’t even on the boat with Mariah, James, and her team this summer, the only time he has met Mariah was in February when he went as a guest to her concert with James.”

As for Packer’s finances, the source continued, “Tommy is an executive in James’ company, and part of his role is looking into Packer’s finances and expenditures, of course he has advised him. The idea he is controlling James and his companies is ridiculous. He looked at his expenses and made suggestions where he saw overspending.

“James isn’t a man who could be controlled, he is a very successful businessman who is in control of a number of businesses and he has a lot of excellent people working for him. James isn’t the kind of guy to listen to someone else where it comes to his private life. His relationship with Mariah ended because she is a diva, she has an entourage around her, and she’s filming a TV show, which is a crazy world that James doesn’t want to be involved with.”

Packer also is facing a business crisis in China after 18 sales and marketing executives for his Crown Casino empire were detained there. The Crown staff are under investigation for violating laws that prohibit direct marketing of casinos to groups in China. It has been reported that authorities are preparing to press charges, and the Crown employees could face up to 10 years in prison. Packer expressed his “deep concern” in a statement in mid-October, adding, “Our number one priority is to be able to make contact and to ensure they are all safe.”

Meanwhile, his reps are continuing to negotiate a settlement with Carey, who is asking for $65 million ($US50 million) for the “emotional distress” of moving her life to LA, only to be told to move out, and for the heartbreak that allegedly forced her to cancel a series of South American tour dates.

Reps for both Carey and Packer didn’t comment.

This article was originally published in the New York Post and appears here with permission.