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{{Paranormal
Thomas John Flanagan, known professionally as Thomas John, claims to be a
John first started working professionally as a
psychic medium
Mediumship is the practice of purportedly mediating communication between familiar spirits or spirits of the dead and living human beings. Practitioners are known as "mediums" or "spirit mediums". There are different types of mediumship or spir ...
. An American, he starred in the 2018 reality TV
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
show, ''"Seatbelt Psychic
''Seatbelt Psychic'' is a 2018 television series broadcast on the Lifetime TV network, starring psychic medium Thomas John who gives guests spiritual readings during a car ride.
Background
Thomas John has a history working in the entertainm ...
"'', and the CBS All Access
Paramount+ is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures (including CBS Studios), Paramount Me ...
series ''The Thomas John Experience'' beginning in June 2020. In January 2020, John began a live show at Caesar's Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino in Paradise, Nevada, Paradise, Nevada, United States. The hotel is situated on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip between Bellagio (resort), Bellagio and The Mirage. It is one of Las Vegas's largest ...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, which was put on hiatus as of March 16, 2020.
John has been the subject of significant criticism, including his use of information acquired online during group readings ( hot readings).
Early life
According to John, he had his first psychic experience when he was 4 years old and saw his deceased grandfather.{{R, Cosmopolitan He said that he experienced his grandfather in a room when he was physically not there, in addition to having seen his grandfather at birthday parties.{{R, BocaMag John has also described his encounters with spirits as vague details coming up first and specifics are spoken to him after.{{R, VogueMediumship career
John first started working professionally as a medium
Medium may refer to:
Science and technology
Aviation
*Medium bomber, a class of war plane
* Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design
Communication
* Media (communication), tools used to store and deliver information or data
* Medium of ...
in his mid-20s, and has worked in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
. John gives private readings to clients and holds speaking events in person and online.{{R, Private{{R, Novella John stars in the reality TV show
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
''The Thomas John Experience'', which premiered on June 4, 2020, on CBS All Access
Paramount+ is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures (including CBS Studios), Paramount Me ...
.{{R, CBS The show was recorded in cities around the United States including New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles.{{R, Post A ''Las Vegas Magazine'' review praised John's live show at Cleopatra's Barge inside Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The hotel is situated on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip between Bellagio and The Mirage. It is one of Las Vegas's largest and best known landmarks.
Caesars P ...
, which premiered on January 16, 2020.{{R, Miyasato The show was put on indefinite hiatus on March 16, 2020.{{R, lvmag
A musical based on John's life and experiences titled ''Dead Serious'' premiered off-Broadway in July 2019. Co-written by Michelle Wendt and John, the musical pulled from John's personal stories, exploring his journey as a medium. ''Dead Serious'' played from July through September 2019 at the Theatre Center in New York City.{{R, Clement Lifetime
Lifetime may refer to:
* Life expectancy, the length of time a person is expected to remain alive
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Lifetime (band), a rock band from New Jersey
* ''Life Time'' (Rollins Band album), by Rollins Band
* ...
produced a reality TV show
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
starring John called ''Seatbelt Psychic''. This show began its run on July 11, 2018, and stars John as a ridesharing company
A ridesharing company (also known as a transportation network company, ride-hailing service; the vehicles are called app-taxis or e-taxis) is a company that, via websites and mobile apps, matches passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire tha ...
driver who surprises passengers when he delivers messages from their deceased
Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
relatives.{{R, NYPix11{{R, HWReporter{{R, Bustle
Reception
In March 2017, John was accused of doing ahot reading
Hot reading is a technique used when giving a psychic reading in stage magic performances, or in other contexts. In hot reading, the reader uses information about the person receiving the reading (for example, from background research or overhear ...
after a sting operation planned and implemented by Susan Gerbic
Susan Gerbic (born 1962) is an American studio photographer who became known as a scientific skepticism activist, mostly for exposing people claiming to be mediums. A columnist for ''Skeptical Inquirer'', she is the co-founder of Monterey Coun ...
and mentalist
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include hypnosis, telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precogniti ...
Mark Edward
Mark Edward (born Mark Edward Wilson, May 19, 1951) is an American mentalist and author. He has written books on mentalism, séance theory and production, including '' Psychic Blues'' published in 2009, where he discusses working for the Psychi ...
. Gerbic and Edward attended John's show using aliases
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
, and John "read" them as a married couple. During the entire reading, John failed to determine the actual identities of Gerbic and Edward, or that they were deceptive during his reading. All personal information he gave them matched what was on their falsified Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
accounts, rather than being about their actual lives.{{R, Pizza{{R, secret
In early 2021, John announced plans to hold a "Virtual Spirit Circle for Children" on April 19.{{R, Circle{{R, Circle2 Upon learning of this event, neurologist Steven Novella
Steven Paul Novella (born July 29, 1964) is an American clinical neurologist and associate professor at Yale University School of Medicine. Novella is best known for his involvement in the skeptical movement as a host of ''The Skeptics' Guide t ...
criticized what he saw as the exploitation of child bereavement
Child bereavement occurs when a child loses someone of importance in their life. There is substantial research regarding grief in adults, but there is less focus in literature about grief among children.Melhem, N. M. (2011). Grief in Children and A ...
.{{R, Novella
Legal issues
In 2009, John was arrested and pleaded guilty to theft and computer fraud for posting fake apartment ads onCraigslist
Craigslist (stylized as craigslist) is an American classified advertisements website with sections devoted to jobs, housing, for sale, items wanted, services, community service, Gig worker, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums.
Craig Newmark ...
and stealing the security deposits from renters.{{R, Shaff{{R, DailyNews1
Bibliography
*{{cite book , last1=John , first1=Thomas , title=Never Argue with a Dead Person: True and Unbelievable Stories from the Other Side , date=25 February 2015 , publisher=Hampton Roads Publishing , isbn=978-1571747242 , df=dmy-allReferences
{{Reflist, refs= {{cite web , last1=Anderson , first1=Kristin , title=How a Celebrity Psychic Turned One Proud Skeptic Into a Believer , url=https://www.vogue.com/article/thomas-john-celebrity-psychic-hollywood-medium , website=Vogue.com , publisher=Vogue , access-date=29 June 2018 , date=15 October 2016 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629191316/https://www.vogue.com/article/thomas-john-celebrity-psychic-hollywood-medium , archive-date=29 June 2018 , url-status=live , df=dmy-all {{cite web , last1=Slattery , first1=Denis , title=Manhattan psychic who ran Craigslist scam sued for owing money to PR firm hired to fix his image , url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/deadbeat-psychic-sued-public-relations-makeover-article-1.2575710 , website=nydailynews.com , publisher=NY Daily News , access-date=29 June 2018 , archive-url=https://archive.today/20180629192011/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/deadbeat-psychic-sued-public-relations-makeover-article-1.2575710 , archive-date=29 June 2018 , date=23 March 2016 , url-status=live , df=dmy-all {{cite web , last1=Ramos , first1=Andrew , title=Renowned medium Thomas John spooks ride-share passengers in 'Seatbelt Psychic' , url=https://pix11.com/2018/06/28/renowned-medium-thomas-john-spooks-ride-share-passengers-in-seatbelt-psychic/ , website=pix11.com/ , publisher=PIX 11 , access-date=29 June 2018 , archive-date=28 June 2018 , date=28 June 2018 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628234718/https://pix11.com/2018/06/28/renowned-medium-thomas-john-spooks-ride-share-passengers-in-seatbelt-psychic/ , url-status=live , df=dmy-all {{cite web , last1=Gardner , first1=Chris , title='Seatbelt Psychic' Thomas John on New Lifetime Show: "Skeptics are Definitely Welcome" , url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/seatbelt-psychic-thomas-john-new-lifetime-show-skeptics-are-definitely-welcome-1119960 , website=hollywoodreporter.com , publisher=Hollywood Reporter , access-date=30 June 2018 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630205022/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/seatbelt-psychic-thomas-john-new-lifetime-show-skeptics-are-definitely-welcome-1119960 , archive-date=30 June 2018 , date=22 June 2018, url-status=live {{cite news , last1=Gerbic , first1=Susan, author-link=Susan Gerbic , title=Operation Pizza Roll- Thomas John , url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/operation-pizza-roll_-_thomas-john/, archive-url=https://archive.today/20200515050735/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/operation-pizza-roll_-_thomas-john/, archive-date=May 15, 2020 , access-date=February 23, 2019 , url-status=live, date=February 21, 2019 {{Cite web, url=https://www.bustle.com/p/how-do-you-get-on-seatbelt-psychic-the-contestants-on-lifetimes-reality-series-get-a-reading-in-addition-to-their-ride-9718324, title=How Do You Get On 'Seatbelt Psychic'? The Contestants On Lifetime's Reality Series Get A Reading In Addition To Their Ride, last=Blanton, first=Kayla, date=July 11, 2019, website=Bustle, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224035035/https://www.bustle.com/p/how-do-you-get-on-seatbelt-psychic-the-contestants-on-lifetimes-reality-series-get-a-reading-in-addition-to-their-ride-9718324, archive-date=February 24, 2019, url-status=live, access-date=January 23, 2019 {{cite news , last1=Shaff , first1=Jay , title=Drag Queen Lady Vera Parker Arrested In Chicago , url=http://www.ontopmag.com/article/4166/Drag_Queen_Lady_Vera_Parker_Arrested_In_Chicago , access-date=24 January 2019 , work=On Top Magazine , date=July 9, 2009 , language=english , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152421/http://www.ontopmag.com/article/4166/Drag_Queen_Lady_Vera_Parker_Arrested_In_Chicago , archive-date=24 January 2019 , url-status=live , df=dmy-all {{Cite web, url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/magazine/psychics-skeptics-facebook.html, title=Inside the Secret Sting Operations to Expose Celebrity Psychics, last=Hitt, first=Jack, date=February 26, 2019, website=New York Times, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226133658/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/magazine/psychics-skeptics-facebook.html, archive-date=February 26, 2019, url-status=live, access-date=February 26, 2019 {{cite web , title=CBS ALL ACCESS' NEW UNSCRIPTED SERIES "THE THOMAS JOHN EXPERIENCE" TO PREMIERE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 4 , url=https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-all-access/releases/view?id=55291 , website=ViacomCBS Press Express , publisher=ViacomCBS , access-date=30 May 2020 {{cite news , last1=Beck , first1=Laura , title=What It's Really Like to Be a Psychic Who Also Communes With the Dead , url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a7664639/psychic-medium-interview/ , publisher=Cosmopolitan , date=1 Nov 2016 {{cite news , last1=Sorren , first1=Martha , title=How Much Does A Thomas John Appointment Cost? The 'Seatbelt Psychic' Is Still Taking Private Readings , url=https://www.bustle.com/p/how-much-does-a-thomas-john-appointment-cost-the-seatbelt-psychic-is-still-taking-private-readings-9682558 , publisher=Bustle , date=11 Jul 2018 {{cite news , last1=Sarner , first1=Lauren , title=Celebrity medium Thomas John dishes on new CBS show and naysayers , url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/02/celebrity-medium-thomas-john-dishes-on-new-cbs-show-and-naysayers/ , publisher=New York Post , date=2 Jun 2020 {{cite web , last1=Novella , first1=Steven , title=Psychic Mediums and Grieving Children , url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/psychic-mediums-and-grieving-children/, website=sciencebasedmedicine.org\ , publisher=Science-Based Medicine , access-date=4 February 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204224408/https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/psychic-mediums-and-grieving-children/ , archive-date=4 February 2021 , date=3 February 2021 , url-status=live {{cite web , last1=Miyasato , first1=Kiko , title=Thomas John Connects with Las Vegas Audiences , url=https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2020/feb/21/psychic-thomas-john-caesars-palace-las-vegas/ , website=lasvegasmagazine.com , publisher=Las Vegas Magazine , access-date=30 May 2020 {{cite news , last1=Clement , first1=Olivia , title=Psychic and Medium Thomas John to Bring Dead Serious Off-Broadway , url=https://www.playbill.com/article/psychic-and-medium-thomas-john-to-bring-dead-serious-off-broadway , publisher=Playbill , date=27 Jun 2019 {{cite web , title=Virtual Spirit Circle for Children , url=https://mediumthomas.com/events/777-child-virtual-spirit-circle , website=mediumthomas.com , publisher=Thomas John , access-date=4 February 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204235304/https://mediumthomas.com/events/777-child-virtual-spirit-circle , archive-date=4 February 2021 , url-status=live {{cite web , title=Virtual Spirit Circle for Children - April 19th, 2021 , url=https://thomas-john-inc.myshopify.com/products/virtual-spirit-circle-for-children-april-19th-2021-7-9pm-et-new-york-local-time , website=thomas-john-inc.myshopify.com , publisher=Thomas John , access-date=5 February 2021 , archive-url=https://archive.today/NoZvz , archive-date=5 February 2021 , url-status=live {{cite news , title=Q&A: Psychic Medium Thomas John , url=https://www.bocamag.com/qa-psychic-medium-thomas-john/ , access-date=12 May 2021 , publisher=Boca Magazine , date=October 11, 2013 {{cite news , title=A list of Las Vegas Strip closures in the wake of the coronavirus crisis , url=https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2020/mar/16/las-vegas-strip-closures-coronavirus-crisis/ , access-date=12 January 2022 , work=Las Vegas Magazine , language=enExternal links
* {{Official website, https://www.mediumthomas.com/ *{{IMDb name, nm5371570 {{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:John, Thomas Living people American spiritual mediums American psychics Mediumship Year of birth missing (living people)