Leah Remini was with the church of Scientology for most of her life until she publicly left the church in 2013. Her mother Vicki was with a man who was a Scientologist. Then, when Vicki had a baby with him, he decided to leave the family. Remini reveals in her new series Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath that they ended up staying with the church, which was all they had. Soon, they moved in with another Scientologist in California and Remini began to work. She soon started landing acting gigs and became dedicated to the church of Scientology. She says that it was when she began to ask questions that she realized the inner-workings of the church were not what she thought. Now Remini is starring in a docu-series that follows the lives of former executives and members of the church, in hopes of shedding light on abuse claims and to help others who may be looking to leave Scientology or learn more about its practices. For more information on the series, read on below.
The Church of Scientology has released statements and letters, stating that Leah Remini is a liar in her claims and “the Church disputes many of the statements made by Leah Remini.”
1. Former Church Executive Mike Rinder Co-Stars On the Series
Mike Rinder co-stars on the series with Remini. Rinder is a former International Spokesperson for the church and was a member of the church for 46 years. He said that his job was to discredit and destroy critics who went after the church. He says, on the series, that his biggest regret was having two children born into Scientology. Because they are still with the church, he says they have disconnected from him.
2. The Church Has Fired Back at Remini’s Show
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In response to Remini’s new series, the Church of Scientology put together a statement that was released on Today. The statement reads:
Leah Remini’s “reality” show, like her last one, is nothing more than a scripted, rehearsed, acted and dramatized work of fiction. She and the other anti-Scientologists in her program have been expelled from the Church for unethical conduct … Leah Remini has disparaged and exploited her former faith through a series of failed publicity stunts, culminating in her “reality” television show — featuring a cast of admitted liars who have, for a profit, been telling differing versions of the same false tales of abuse for years, many reviewed and discredited in courts of law. That A&E would promote their agenda smacks of bigotry.
For the full statement, click here.
3. Tom Cruise’s Involvement In Scientology Is One of the Focuses On the Show
(Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
Tom Cruise’s involvement in the church and the desire to keep him in Scientology is a big topic. On the show, Leah Remini meets with former church executive Amy Scobee, who said that one of her jobs was to create a staff of only scientologists around Tom Cruise. She said that his maids, housekeepers, you name it, had to be scientologists because the church wanted to keep him completely engulfed in Scientology. While Cruise was married to Nicole Kidman, he moved away from the organization. Then, after the divorce, the series claims that the church’s mission was to get Cruise to rejoin.
The series also claims that the church specifically would target celebrities to recruit into Scientology.
4. Organizations Within Scientology Are Revealed
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The “religion” was founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954 and the show talks about how he used influences from the Navy to develop the Sea Organization within the church. Former church executive Amy Scobee discusses a couple organizations within the church of Scientology. One was the Sea Organization, which was completely away from loved ones. Scobee said you had to sign a “billion year” contract to be involved and it was complete dedication to Scientology.
Another aspect of Scientology, which was brought up by Scobee and her husband, was RPF, which is the Rehabilitation Project Force. Scobee said that those who disobeyed or acted out against things to do with the church, were sent to RPF in order to get people “back on track.” The way she described it almost sounds like a work camp.
5. Specific Stories About Church Leader David Miscavige Are Exposed
MR. DAVID MISCAVIGE led the dedication of the Church of Scientology of San Diego, Saturday, November 19. t.co/m3mfKSBRPn
In several stories on the series, church leader David Miscavige is described as an angry man who would physically attack members of the church. Leah Remini said that one of the biggest turning points for her with Scientology was a run-in with Miscavige. She was attending Tom Cruise’s wedding to Katie Holmes and she says there were many top Scientology officials at the event. When she asked where Miscavige’s wife Shelly was, she says she was met with this response from top church official Tommy Davis:
I don’t think you have the fucking rank, quite honestly, to ask where Shelly is.
Remini ended up filing a missing persons report for Shelly Miscavige, which was ruled unfounded when police contacted Shelly Miscavige. Remini’s response was:
When I asked the officers, ‘Did you see her with your own eyes? Is she alive and safe?’ their response was, ‘We cannot give you that information, ma’am.’ I still don’t have an answer.
According to People, David Miscavige was Tom Cruise’s best man at the wedding.
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‘Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath’ Series: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know