Leah Remini hasn’t said much about her much-publicized split with the Scientology cult. She issued a brief statement confirming the news and then followed up with another quote, basically confirming that she had a right to question things, and that she valued her friends and family and wasn’t about to be separated from them. Leah didn’t call out Scientology directly, she only referred in a roundabout way to their practices of shunning ex-members and of cutting off anyone who dared ask questions. Leah’s sister told the press what was really going on, and detailed how Leah was being shunned by former longterm friends after leaving the cult, and after undergoing intense “counseling” for questioning leader David Miscavige, counseling she was billed for.
Leah went through a lot deciding to ditch Scientology after being raised in the cult, and she probably has a lot of crazy stories about what she went through. She was even in “Sea Org,” the Scientology forced labor camp, with her sister Nicole when they were teenagers. Leah and Nicole were able to escape from Sea Org by fighting back after a former friend spread lies about them. We’ve heard a little about that from Leah’s sister, but I’d love to hear Leah’s version. That may be coming soon. Leah told US Weekly that she’s writing a tell all!
Leah Remini – who recently defected from the controversial Church of Scientology after 30 years – tells Us she’s penning a tell-all. “It will include my experiences, everything that’s taboo to talk about,” the former Talk cohost, 43, revealed at the 15th annual DesignCare event in Malibu on July 27. Asked whether she’s happy with her post-Scientology life, the mom to Sofia, 9 (with husband Angelo Pagan, 55), said “Happiness is relative. It’s a time of change.”
[From Us Magazine, print edition, August 12, 2013]
There have been some excellent books that have come out lately by ex-Scientologists, books that almost belied belief. The cult has fought back by trying to smear the people who dared speak out against them, but as Kaiser asked recently, what could they do to Leah? She’s famous and somewhat beyond their reach. She could also do much more damage to their criminal organization, and get so much more publicity than your average ex-member. This woman is powerful and I hope she helps take this cult down. No wonder Kirstie Alley is shaking in her boots.
Leah Remini and her husband, Angelo Pagan, are shown on 2-27-11. They’re also shown with their daughter on 7-21-11. Credit: PR Photos
Was or is her husband a Scientologist? Was she raising her daughter as one?
Yes – her entire family (parents, hubs, daughter) were all COS and they’ve all left.
Thanks, Gigi. Did they all leave simultaneously?
Yes, they all left together. Her parents were way way up on the ladder too!
WHERE IS SHELLY??????
I read she actually got her husband into the sci-cult, that he was resistant at first. Anyway, congrats to the whole fam damily for shaking off the leeches.
Wow, I would double-check the brakes on my car, if I were her.
My first thought exactly. I am a little afraid for her.
She might want to hire a food taster while she’s at it.
So true. Accidents happen. Like Shelly’s mom who did suicide by shooting herself 3 times to chest and once to head. Be careful Leah!
If she gets a book advance payment, she should use it to hire a full time bodyguard. Those Sci’s have killed many people.
She should write a book & make back the money she gave to this cult.
Agreed.
I would buy it, just to piss off Scientology, HA!
I will read this for sure!
“Happiness is relative. It’s a time of change”.
Good quote. Yes, she’s better off but no, it’s not an easy thing to do. It can’t be easy to walk away from everything you have ever known.
I love this quote, so true.
just wanted to say “yay Leah” go for it. we need to encourage people that leave $cientology.
In my opinion, any church that doesn’t allow its members to leave without them facing serious consequences for doing so is a cult. Mormons and Scientologists behave in the same way towards members who question their belief system and/or who choose to leave their fold.
To know what is best for another individual is a notion I cannot fathom. I take great offense to those who try to impose their belief system upon me because they’re so sure they know what’s best for me.
I commend Ms. Remini on her bravery and wish her all the best in the future. Though she may wish to consult with Katie Holmes about moving to NYC or somewhere that would be difficult to report her missing from. I am personally terrified of these people.
Oh, really? I’ll be sure to let all of my Mormon family know that they aren’t allowed to speak to me. I’m sure that will be news for them.
Yeeeah, have to go with Amanda on this one; there’s no need to lump Mormons in w/ CO$. I;ve always kept close with friends and family who decided to leave Mormonism, and any leader I’ve heard has encouraged keeping ties with family whenever humanly possible. Any Mormons who shun are in the minority and need to get their attitudes checked. Co$ is a whole other batch of crazy.
Please accept my sincere apology for linking Mormons with Scientologists I was wrong to do so.
It’s just that I’ve heard so many similar stories from people I know who have left the Mormon church have the same experience. Nevertheless, I should not have linked the two and I’m sorry I offended you.
I was in the Mormon church and I was shunned by my family and friends when I left. I am still “love bombed” and stalked whenever I move to a different state despite repeated requests to stop and processing my church resignation. The LDS church does indeed have plenty of sketchy practices. But they are not nearly as bad as Scientology.
While I probably wouldn’t link CO$ and LDS, there are some comparisons.
My good friend is LDS, her father is not, although her parents are married. Not only was he not allowed to walk her down the aisle, he could not even attend her wedding. No non-Mormons in the temple you know. I, along with all her work friends, were not invited as well. She had no problem with this what so ever.
Yon may not be able to lump Mormons in that category but you can lump Jehovah’s Witnesses. I left and my mom and sister will not even answer the phone to talk with me. They have told me point blank I am not welcome in their house, but my husband and daughters can visit.
And no I am not a lying, thieving drug addict. I simply have decided that I don’t want to follow those rules anymore. I disagree with their teachings and want my own life.
Was the husband a scientologist? Did he leave with her, or how does that work.
I think the whole family left, incl hubby and kids.
Love her for this!
I just found this: http://tonyortega.org/2013/07/18/leah-reminis-sister-nicole-how-we-got-into-scientology-and-how-leah-got-out/ which expands on what CB was talking about. Leah really did fight back. I admire her spirit.
That article mentions “agent Kevin Huvane”. Is he related to Stephen Huvane (Jen Aniston’s publicist?)
Yes there are three Huvane brothers , all high powered Agents and Publicists. They share clients too. Theres a bunch of A listers with a Huvane publicist and a Huvane agent. Also (and I hope this doesnt offend) two of the brothers are gay which is I hear is ridiculously rare. Like Siamese twins level of rare.
I would read the shit out of that book
+1
Me too!
+1
All I wanna know right now is where I can pre-order!
Ooh, they could make a movie out of it. Perfect casting for Miscavige: Tom Cruise.
He-he, yeah, like that would happen. Actually, that might be the perfect comeback to real acting role for Johnny Depp.
Perfect
Tom Cruise should play Miscavige
Johnny Depp plays Tom Cruise
Katie Holmes plays Mimi Rogers,
Nicole Kidman plays Katie Holmes
Mimi Rogers plays Nicole Kidman
Travolta in drag plays Kirstie Alley
And Meryl Streep as Shelley.
Freakin’ hilarious. I like the way you think.
*Except: Meryl Streep is never seen in the movie, right?
Right, Meryl would be the unseen narrator!
So much for that billion year contract.
I hope she does write a book. Make it known to everyone that Scientology goes far beyond weirdness and deep down into the territory of human rights abuse, in addition to being a really sick and grotesque money pilfering operation.
I hope she does write a book and reveals the truth about the cult. Her popularity gives her huge credibility with the public, so it could be a huge blow to the cult.
And as Leah is a very public figure, while I have no doubt the cult will be doing a certain amount of ‘fair-gaming’ to her and her family, it will be NOTHING compared to the threats and intimidation that is inflicted daily on other critics.
Look at the picture at the top of this article.
http://tonyortega.org/2013/08/01/leah-remini-retaliation-suddenly-scientology-fair-gaming-of-critics-is-way-up/
Is it right that these innocent kids are considered fair game?
And Ortega himself, though he didn’t say it (one of the commenters mentioned it) is also suffering increased harassment.
As for receiving help from the cops in California, well the LA County Sheriff is Lee Baca, a well-known CO$ member.
It’s dismaying to hear that the sheriff is a $cilon. However, given the level of human rights abuses (if even half of what’s been written is true, and I’m sure most of what’s written is true) – I don’t think it’s a state or local matter anymore. At this point, it would have to be a federal matter. Particularly if they are taking people from their facility in California to the one in Florida, as is rumored – interstate kidnapping. Here’s hoping SOME federal agency has the balls to investigate these creeps properly. Soon.
All the Scientology lawyers are sniffing a lawsuit right now.
Tough titties for them.
Nah, they probably make out like bandits. They still get paid even if they lose. Win-win for them.
They screwed with the wrong woman this time…Leah is one tough cookie and I for one will read this book cover to cover!!
i would pre order that book that hasnt been close to written yet today
Or she could take a page out their book, Dianetics, and buy them up in volume to artificially inflate sales numbers, popularity and rank on The NYT Best-sellers list. Or so I’ve heard.
I for one will read that book! I have to say I have always liked Leah and stopped watching The Talk when they booted her.
Why was she booted?
THIS is one book I cannot wait to purchase.
Go Leah!
GO Leah!!
Yaaay! I was hoping the TomKat divorce would lead to a huge expose, so this should make up for that disappointment.
She should get a locking gas cap on her car and make sure her pets are kept indoors. Scientology agents poisoned LA Times journalist Joel Sappell’s dog in the 1980’s.
http://www.lamag.com/features/2012/12/18/the-tip-of-the-spear
Wow, she is finally interesting. This is something I would read!!
The problem is she really doesn’t know a lot and she probably still believes in the teachings of the nutcase cult, just not Miscaivage, but will be interesting just from a first-person account of her growing up in the cult.
I’m curious about that. I suspect you’re right, and she still believes in Scientology.
Which would make for an interesting reaction to the book. Seems like most people are expecting her to denounce Scientology alotogether, so there might be a backlash if she doesn’t.
I hope she’s careful. Scientologists aren’t even in the same league as normal crazed cultists. It is a deranged ego cult that almost certainly is top heavy with people who are certifiably NPD. If you have ever dealt with an NPD person, you know how sociopathic & insane they get when they feel slighted and or attacked. The slightest thing can set them off–and publishing a tell all is more than slight.
They have hit squads for people like LR. One Scientology ‘apostate’ got stalked by guys with cameras on their heads. A journalist who published papers that offended the Church got ‘befriended’ by a bunch of nutjobs who nudged their way into her personal life and played mind-games with her (one of them reported to their higher ups that she was depressed, and the guy said something like ‘wouldn’t it be great if she committed suicide?’ ). Oh, yeah, and they tried to frame her for a bomb plot. Operation Freakout was what they called it.
It’s not smearing Scientology to say that it is all kinds of crazy, when it is. And scary crazy–it really is a powerful entity. It’s not just a bunch of loons; the Church is responsible for the single largest infiltration of the US government that we know about (Operation Snow White, which targeted at least 30 countries). The leadership, at least, really needs to be treated like the dangerous & hostile entity that it is, instead of being mollycoddled and giggled about.
Exactly, which is why I get disheartened when critics focus on the ‘funny’ things, like TC’s height. It makes light of a very serious, very criminal orginisation. If I had been one of their victims, I would be upset at the trivialities of some of the critiques. There is true evil in Co$. Miscavige deserves life behind bars just for starters.
Oh Lord. I’ve been living in China for the past 5 years. When will people learn…you can’t control what others talk about? You can barely control what they do! At least China has the force of 6000 years of Confucian history or some shit. But CoS? Like LRH is somehow emblematic enough to carry this kind of weight?
This sh*t is as bad as the Christian Right patriarchy movement. And fairly similar, too.
That book will be a best seller for sure!
Love you, Leah!!! I will buy that book!!