Update: Leah Remini Sues Church of Scientology for Harassment

[JamesG]

Exclusive: Actress Leah Remini Quits Scientology after Years of "Interrogations"
July 11, 2013


“King of Queens” star Leah Remini is making a dramatic break from the Church of Scientology, a source said, after being subjected to years of “interrogations” and “thought modification” for questioning leader David Miscavige’s rule.

The source tells us Remini is quitting because of policies that don’t allow parishioners to question Miscavige’s management or the reported abuse of members of its Sea Org religious order — and for forcing followers to “disconnect” from family members branded as “suppressive persons” if they choose to leave the church.

“It all began when Leah questioned the validity of excommunication of people,” a source said of her decision. “She is stepping back from a regime she thinks is corrupt. She thinks no religion should tear apart a family or abuse someone under the umbrella of ‘religion.’”





Former Sea Org member Mike Rinder blogged this week that at Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ 2006 wedding, Remini innocently asked where Miscavige’s wife, Shelly, was. Former Scientology Celebrity Centre head Tommy Davis scolded her, “You don’t have the [bleeping] rank to ask about Shelly.” Mrs. Miscavige reportedly hasn’t been seen in public since 2007.

As a result, Remini “was put through interrogations and blacklisted within the church that she donated millions to and that her family has spent their lives in. She was put through ‘thought modification’ for five years,” our source said.

The source added that church friends Remini had for “25 to 30 years wrote internal reports” about her that “caused an investigation on her family.”





Someone close to Remini said she’s weighing going public “when she sees what the church tries to do. She has heard they use people to scare you into silence.”

The source added, “She’s from Brooklyn. The church can’t hurt her . . . they don’t have her family, that’s all that matters to her.” And, “It’s not about wanting or not wanting to do Scientology . . . The issue is that Miscavige is taking down this church and hurting people and families.”

A Scientology rep denied all allegations.

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/remi...ymA6dSg9VQYVEN

[Mr. Television]

She's better off. It's nothing but a cult.

[JamesG]

Leah Remini Thanks Media Amid Reports of Break with Scientology
7/11/2013
by THR Staff


Leah Remini has issued a statement regarding reports that she has cut ties with the Church of Scientology.

"I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues and fans from around the world. I am truly grateful and thankful for all your support."



The star of "King of Queens" left the church after criticizing its treatment of followers and the leadership of David Miscavige, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. This follows years of scrutiny during which she allegedly was subjected to forced interrogations and underwent "thought modification" sessions.

A Church of Scientology representative tells THR, "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...reports-584037

[born2late]

Seems to me it's just a cult to control & bleed gullible celebs of their money. I've never heard of any real religion treating their members like that. Even L Ron Hubbard's grandson denounced Scientology.

[robyrob]

Harlan Ellison even talked about when L Ron Hubbard was given the idea to start a religion after he complained about needing to find a way to make easy money - it is basically a pyramid scheme that uses an all-encompassing cult atmosphere to control its members.

i think Leah Remini has reason to fear for her life and her family's safety, but she is still better away from that dangerous cult.

[Blackout]

once tom cruise is out of work they will have no more famous faces

[gidgetgrape]

Watch your back girl!

I remember when Leah sent scientology literature with autographed photos she sent out to fans. Ugh!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by born2late

Seems to me it's just a cult to control & bleed gullible celebs of their money. I've never heard of any real religion treating their members like that. Even L Ron Hubbard's grandson denounced Scientology.

[JamesG]

Leah Remini on Scientology: "No One Is Going to Tell Me How I Need to Think"
by Reagan Alexander
7/29/2013


Leah Remini may have split from Scientology earlier this month, but she's not suddenly on her own.

"We stand united, my family and I, and I think that says a lot about who we are, and what we're about," the former "King of Queens" star, 43, told PEOPLE on Saturday at the 15th annual DesignCare event in Malibu.

She added, "I believe that people should be able to question things. I believe that people should value family, and value friendships, and hold those things sacrosanct. That for me, that's what I'm about. It wouldn't matter what it was, simply because no one is going to tell me how I need to think, no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to."





The actress – who was defended by the niece of David Miscavige, the most powerful man in Scientology – explained, "It doesn't matter, it could be anything. I thought about the family being broken up for some other cause, and I'm not about to shut up."

After being a very visible member of the religion for more than three decades, following her departure, Remini thanked fans for their support.

"I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues, and from fans around the world. I am truly grateful and thankful for all your support," she said in a statement earlier this month.

http://www.people.com/people/article...6pLid%3D350568

[MacLeaper]

Good for her. While I respect people's rights to form and follow their own beliefs regarding God and religion in general, I can't say I agree with Scientology. So I'm glad she's out of that. (No offense to any followers of this religion, but I have some serious theological differences as a follower of Christ.) I pray she will come to know Christ as well. God bless her in her journey of faith.

[JamesG]

Leah Remini Plans Tell-All Memoir
8/4/2013
by Andy Lewis


Actress Leah Remini, whose very public split from the Church of Scientology produced a negative round of publicity for the religion, is now planning on writing a tell-all book about her life.

Details about how much Remini will spill about Scientology are scarce.





Her public comments to date about why she left the church have been circumscribed, but her discussion about a possible memoir hints at a willingness to open up about Scientology.

"The King of Queens" actress, who is a second-generation Scientologist, told US Weekly at the annual DesignCare event in Malibu on July 27 that a memoir would include "my experiences, everything that's taboo to talk about."

At the same event, she told People, "I believe that people should be able to question things. I believe that people should value family, and value friendships, and hold those things sacrosanct. That, for me, that's what I'm about. It wouldn't matter what it was, simply because no one is going to tell me how I need to think; no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to."





A Remini memoir could be a blockbuster. She was friendly with many of the most famous Scientologists, including Tom Cruise and the religion's controversial leader, David Miscavige.

Indeed, a comment Remini supposedly made about the absence of Miscavige's wife, Shelly, from Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes in 2006 is reported to have gotten her in trouble with church leaders.

A memoir from Remini that talks not only about her own experiences but also about her relationships with Miscavige and other celebrity Scientologists could attract a multimillion-dollar advance, especially with multiple publishers bidding.





Going Clear, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright's history of Scientology, was an instant best-seller when it was published in January. Add in Remini's celebrity, and publishers have a recipe for a huge hit.

Multiple publishers have already approached the actress with interest in the project. Reuters reported she had received "a number of offers" for the as-yet-unwritten book.





Remini is probably the most famous long-standing celebrity adherent to break from the church. Screenwriter Paul Haggis left Scientology in 2009. His exit drew widespread attention after it was the subject of a New Yorker story by Wright and was prominently featured in Going Clear.

Even though Haggis won a 2006 Oscar for writing Crash, his public profile pales in comparison to Remini, who has been a well-known actress since a guest stint on "Saved by the Bell" in 1991.



Her longest-running role was as Kevin James' wife on CBS' "The King of Queens", which aired from 1998-2007.

In 2010-11, she was one of the hosts of the CBS daytime talk show "The Talk".

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...ell-all-599364

[80sTrivia]

Should make for interesting reading...

[JamesG]

Leah Remini on "Ellen": I've Lost Friends Since Leaving Scientology
Sep 9, 2013
by Kate Stanhope


Leah Remini opened up about her life since leaving Scientology on the season premiere of "Ellen" Monday.

"It's hard. We lost friends who can no longer talk to us who are still in the organization," Remini said. "But we have other friends, who are not in the church, who have stood by us, and that's all we can ask for."



News that Remini left the church first broke in July. Her appearance on Monday's episode to talk about her upcoming stint on "Dancing with the Stars" was one of the first times the former sitcom star has spoken publicly about why she left Scientology.

"My mother got involved when we were very young, so it's all we really knew. But over time, my eyes got opened, and I could just no longer be affiliated with the organization, and my family felt the same, so we left," she said.



To hear more about Remini's exit from the church and how her "Dancing with the Stars" practices are going so far, check out the clip below:

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Leah-Rem...y-1070110.aspx

[Blackout]

that **** is for nutcases


glad she left before she went missing like the leaders wife

[TMC]

http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthr...-This-Is-SCARY

For years and years now we've heard about the Church of Scientology and how shady it is, and how it takes in celebrities and makes them very strange and then unleashes them on the world to make everyone uncomfortable. Of course there's Tom Cruise, who is all but lost to us now, and John Travolta, those stars who are very tight with the church. But then there are celebrities like Leah Remini, people who are famous and very involved, but not so publicized. And then, if we're really, truly lucky, we'll get to see someone like Leah break free from the organization and then tell us all its secrets.

Leah still isn't spilling every last bit of information, even though she discussed her time in the religion with Oprah on her "Where Are They Now?" show:

She talks a bit about what the church requires:

And she shares a sad story about missing out on time with her family in order to be a "good" Scientologist:

She also discussed her reasons for leaving the church and how hard it was:

And while Leah is obviously so great and so brave for sharing all of this, and for having the courage to leave in the first place, the church gave Us Weekly this official statement: