Leah Remini looks like the kind of loudmouth who will either knuckle you in the talk hole with all her rings on or quit you if you tell her to put her lips together and shut up, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that she dumped Scientology after they told her to hit the mute button on her vocal cords, but I was. Page Six and Tony Ortega reported that Leah plugged out of the 16-bit Atari video game masquerading as a religion, because they punished her when she asked where David Miscarriage’s wife was and squinted her eyes at his leadership skills. Last night, Leah gave a statement toPeople and thanked hos for being supportive. Leah’s statement of words is pretty vague and for all we know she could be thanking people for supporting her while she got a butt wart burned off, but I’m pretty sure this is about Scientology. She should’ve added a subtle, “Fuck you, David Miscarriage,” at the end of her statement, though.
“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.”
Leah didn’t add the canned “please respect my privacy at this time” line that every celebwhore adds to every damn statement, because she knows that we know that it’s impossible to contact her since she took a sledgehammer to all her phones, burned her house down, sold her social security number to identity thieves and is now hiding out in the basement of a pharmaceutical factory under a pile of anti-depressants, Matt Lauer headshots and rubber vaginas. Not even the hardest Scientology soldier (who looks like this) is going to get near a mountain of anti-depressants and rubber vaginas.
Leah Remini Leaves Scientology After Questioning David Miscavige's Leadership
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UPDATED: In a statement to THR, the "King of Queens" actress shares her "heartfelt appreciation" for "the overwhelming positive response" she has received since her exit.
Leah Remini is leaving Scientology after questioning its treatment of church members and the controversial, allegedly autocratic leadership of David Miscavige, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.
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Remini, who starred on the CBS sitcom King of Queens and, more recently, ABC's short-lived Family Tools, has quit following years of scrutiny in which she was alleged to have repeatedly been interrogated and forced to undergo "thought modification."
"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 actress said in a statement released to THR.
In a report on Thursday, The New York Post quoted a source as saying, "It all began when Leah questioned the validity of excommunication of people. 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.'"
A Church of Scientology representative, asked for comment by T, said "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member."
Earlier this week, Mike Rinder -- a former high-ranking Scientologist who left the religion and now operates a blog dedicated to airing its dirty laundry -- wrote that Miscavige began overseeing "heavy-handed efforts to force her into line" after she asked why the leader's wife, Shelly, was not present at the November 2006 wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Rinder reports that Tommy Davis, then head of the Scientology Celebrity Centre, told Remini: "You don’t have the f---ing rank to ask about Shelly."
The Church of Scientology has denounced Rinder as unreliable and has repeatedly cautioned reporters about relying on him as a source.
Shelly Miscavige, a member of the church's Sea Org, an elite order headquartered near Los Angeles and in Clearwater, Fla., has reportedly not been sighted publicly since 2007, according to a post on writerTony Ortega's Scientology-focused website, The Underground Bunker.
Remini, 43, has been a member of the church for some three decades, and her mother became a Scientologist in the 1970s, Rinder said. She "remains convinced of the value of L. Ron Hubbard’s work, but will no longer tolerate the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church. Nor will she allow anyone to tell her who she can and cannot talk to or associate with. As a result, the church has lost one of its most effective supporters – both in the public relations arena and their bank balances," he wrote.
According to Ortega, the actress had risen through Scientology's ranks to achieve Operating Thetan Level Five, with three more rungs to climb until reaching the highest spiritual rank. Her husband, restaurateur Angelo Pagan, is a Scientologist. They have a nine-year-old daughter, Sofia.
The Post reported that the church investigated the Brooklyn-born Remini and her family and that she was subjected to "thought modification" over a five-year period. She is considering the idea of speaking out publicly about her experience, the paper said.
Once a fierce defender of Scientology, Remini said in a 2001 interview with CNN, "If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church. If you're really against something, then know what you're against."
In a series of stories on the religion practiced by Cruise and John Travolta, among other celebrities,The Hollywood Reporter spoke with former members who provided insight on attempts to brandNicole Kidman a "suppressive person" following her divorce from Cruise and badmouth the actress to her two adopted children with the actor in an apparent strategy to cut out Kidman from their lives. Other much less famous members who left the church have been "excommunicated" from Scientology, their still-practicing family members encouraged to cut off all ties. The church repeatedly has denied these allegations.
Earlier this year, The Hollywood Reporter published an excerpt from Lawrence Wright's book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, and held a sold-out Q&A with the author in L.A., where he called upon the religion's "celebrity pitchmen" to use their "moral authority" to bring about reform in the church. The church was highly critical of Wright's book and denied many of its assertions.
In response to a question on whether Scientology had the capacity to reform itself after more than three decades of rule under Miscavige -- leadership that Wright argues in his book is abusive and detrimental to the overall health of the church -- the writer predicted a "reckoning" is coming for the religion.
Besides Kidman, other recent high-profile departures have included Holmes, Paul Haggis and Jason Beghe.
Email: Erin.Carlson@THR.com
Twitter: @ErinLCarlson
Leah Remini Quits Scientology After Years Of "Thought Modification"
- Easha Acharya
- in
- Culture
- 6 hours ago
Leah Remini Quits Scientology After Years Of "Thought Modification"
The Church of Scientology has lost one of its most prominent members, according to the New York Post's new report: Leah Remini. Page Six has alleged that the 43-year-old former King of Queens actress made a "dramatic break" from the controversial religion. The Church, which has long been associated with a plethora of celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, wasrecognized as a "non-profit charitable organization" in the United States in 1993. Since publicly admitting to joining the Church in 2001, Leah Remini has defended her choice and the institution itself a number of times. Now she has broken away after apparently being forced into "thought modification" classes and "interrogations."
Why? Technology Center Chairman David Miscavige's wife, Shelly Miscavige, has not been seen in public since 2007. After Remini inquired about where she might be, a source told the Post that Tommy Davis, head of the Scientology celebrity centre, said: "You don't have the f*cking rank to ask about Shelly." From that moment on she was subjected to abuse from members about her question.
Apparently, Remini had written a "knowledge report" about the occurrence, where she criticised Miscavige for his outburst. However, directly after submitting her report, she was ordered to the Scientology spiritual headquarters to take thought modification classes, including lie detection testing to uncover any "negative thoughts" she may have had about the church.
Boasting a following of over 8 million, the Scientology is undoubtedly controversial. It has been viewed as and referenced to as many things from a cult to a corporation; respected and genuine religion is not often one of them, and the possibility of "thought modification" being enforced isn't likely to help the stigma associated with the church.
The church has also been hotly defended, highlighting that it's fees are no different than that of other religious institutions, and that while the high levels of the Church of Scientology are very authoritarian and cult-like, so are those of many other churches. These notions play to the idea that it may just be the youth of the church that make its actions look so starkly "crazy" in comparison to other religions. It's easy enough to wave away questionable incidents associated with other religions due to their age; we may just think them archaic and not representative of most followers of the faith. Seemingly, it is more difficult to apply the same logic to such a new religion.
However, Remini left the church, calling it "a regime that she thinks is corrupt." After she was chastised by Church officials for her actions, Remini was interrogated and blacklisted.
Scientology is an "applied religious philosophy," so it's possible to be both a Scientologist and any other religion, also making the stigma look a little more unfair and the church look fairly flexible and unintimidating. Something rarely said of Scientology, but often said of older religious institutions, is that a religion's theology or philosophy is not unreasonable, but its leaders are. Over the past 59 years, the church has stood strong and grown, with many new followers; perhaps a change in leadership is what's most needed to make it more publicly accepted.
For now though, the church has had another blow, not in its favor. A source speaking for Remini said that "no religion should … abuse someone under the umbrella of religion".
Tony Ortega's expose about Remini's clash with the church can be read here.
Leah Remini Scientology Update: Actress Speaks Out About Quitting Religion, Welcomes the Support
By Minyvonne Burke m.burke@hngn.com | Jul 12, 2013 10:22 AM EDT
More information is being revealed about why Leah Remini quit the Church of Scientology. According to Fox News, the "King of Queens" actress has reportedly threatened to call police after no one in the Church would answer her questions surrounding the whereabouts of Church of Scientology, David Miscavige's wife, Shelly. According to reports Shelly hasn't been seen in public since 2007.
After Remini started asking questions about the leader's wife she was hauled in for interrogation. Her suspicion reportedly began in 2006 at the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. The high profile wedding was attended by many celebrities including Miscavige. His wife, however, was not there.
"Notably absent, however, was Miscavige's wife Shelly. Remini dared to ask about it - and loudly," Tony Ortega, former editor of Village Voice who has written about Scientology since 2005 said. "When she asked about it she was told to shut up, as if the question itself was out of line. That did not sit well with the actress, who is known for speaking her mind. When she returned from Italy she did what Scientologists are told not do when they see something that they consider against the churches rules - she wrote a "Knowledge Report."
According to sources who Ortega spoke to, the report criticized Miscavige, his assistant, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and other people considered as higher-ups in the Church. After all the media attention Remini released a statement last night thanking the media and fans for all 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 fans from around the world. I am truly grateful and thankful for all your support."
The actress isn't the only celebrity who has left the Church of Scientology. In 2009 Filmmaker Paul Haggis left saying in an interview with "Rock Center's" Harry Smith that he was "ashamed of my own stupidity, of how I could have been purposely blind for so many years."
Katie Holmes also made a public exit after divorcing husband Tom Cruise. Nicole Kidman also left but said in an interview that she wasn't going to publicly talk about her decision because she has two kids who are Scientologists. Other celebrities who have left include Jerry Seinfeld, Lisa Marie Presley and Jason Beghe.
Leah Remini said to have quit Scientology; thanks fans for their support
Leah Remini, posing her at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre's 39th anniversary gala, has reportedly quit the church.(Rene Macura/AP photo)
LATEST GOSSIP
In the most high-powered defection from the Church of Scientology since director Paul Haggis left in 2009, former "King of Queens" star Leah Remini has reportedly quit the church.
The New York Post was first to report the rift, citing sources who claimed that Remini disagreed with the "corrupt" practices of the current leadership and with the policy that ban members from communicating with relatives who left the church.
Remini herself issued a statement to People magazine that doesn't address her alleged departure from Scientology: "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."
Scientology, developed by science fiction L. Ron Hubbard more 50 years ago, believes that man is an immortal spiritual with unlimited capabilities, although it has come under fire for brainwashing and defrauding members, and more recently, for the alleged harsh treatment received by those who displeased the church leaders. Haggis says he left Scientology for several reasons, including the church's order that Haggis' wife "disconnect" from her parents after they left Scientology.
On its website, Scientology explains why it has sometimes been considered controversial: "For the truth is there are those in this world who find it strange and frightening to see the everyday people, the forgotten people turn into philosophers overnight, suddenly unaffected by the threats of their 'betters.' In that sense, the so-called controversy of Scientology is merely the bitter old resisting the ambitious new."
Scientology's most high-profile members include Tom Cruise (who memorably tangled with Matt Lauer in 2005 over Scientology's rejection of psychiatry and psychiatric pharmaceuticals), John Travolta, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, Beck, Kirstie Alley and Jenna Elfman.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images for EJAF
The former 'King of Queens' star is allegedly against the church's policies that forbid parishioners to question David Miscavige's management and that demand them to cut all ties with family members who have been denounced by the church.
Photo credit: FayesVision/WENNLeah Remini, one of the Scientology's famous members, has reportedly distanced herself from the church. New York Post reports that the former "King of Queens" star allegedly has had enough after being subjected to years of "interrogations" and "thought modification."
"It all began when Leah questioned the validity of excommunication of people," a source opened up to the news outlet. "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.' "
The report of Remini leaving Scientology was first broken out by Tony Ortega, who's writing a book about the controversial church and writes a blog about it. The actress allegedly alarmed the church's top execs after asking the whereabouts of church leader David Miscavige's wife.
Remini reportedly asked why Shelly, who has, according to Ortega, never been seen publicly since 2006 except for one in August 2007 when she was allowed to attend her father's funeral, was absent from Tom Cruiseand Katie Holmes' November 2006 wedding in Italy.
According toanother Scientology critic Mike Rinder, a former high-ranking member of the church, Remini was scolded by Tommy Davis, a then-head of the Scientology Celebrity Centre, for daring to ask such question. "You don't have the f***ing rank to ask about Shelly," Davis allegedly told her.
Remini, 43, has become a Scientologist for around three decades. Her mother joined the church, which followers include Cruise and John Travolta, in the 1970s. Remini is married to restaurateur Angelo Pagan, who is also a Scientologist. The couple has a nine-year-old daughter, Sofia.
She once was a fierce defender of the church. "If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church. If you're really against something, then know what you're against," she said in a 2001 interview.
Remini "remains convinced of the value of L. Ron Hubbard's work, but will no longer tolerate the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church. Nor will she allow anyone to tell her who she can and cannot talk to or associate with," Rinder said.
In response to the report, a Scientology rep said as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member." They also stated, "The Church of Scientology has denounced Rinder as unreliable and has repeatedly cautioned reporters about relying on him as a source."
Remini joins a series of public figures who have left the controversial church, including Cruise's ex-wives Nicole Kidman and Holmes, as well as writer-director Paul Haggis. He exited after being a member for many years. Earlier this year, Haggis said, "I was ashamed of my own stupidity, of how I could have been so blind for so many years."
Read more:http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00062118.html#ixzz2Yqn84by5
The New York Post was first to report the rift, citing sources who claimed that Remini disagreed with the "corrupt" practices of the current leadership and with the policy that ban members from communicating with relatives who left the church.
Remini herself issued a statement to People magazine that doesn't address her alleged departure from Scientology: "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."
Scientology, developed by science fiction L. Ron Hubbard more 50 years ago, believes that man is an immortal spiritual with unlimited capabilities, although it has come under fire for brainwashing and defrauding members, and more recently, for the alleged harsh treatment received by those who displeased the church leaders. Haggis says he left Scientology for several reasons, including the church's order that Haggis' wife "disconnect" from her parents after they left Scientology.
On its website, Scientology explains why it has sometimes been considered controversial: "For the truth is there are those in this world who find it strange and frightening to see the everyday people, the forgotten people turn into philosophers overnight, suddenly unaffected by the threats of their 'betters.' In that sense, the so-called controversy of Scientology is merely the bitter old resisting the ambitious new."
Scientology's most high-profile members include Tom Cruise (who memorably tangled with Matt Lauer in 2005 over Scientology's rejection of psychiatry and psychiatric pharmaceuticals), John Travolta, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, Beck, Kirstie Alley and Jenna Elfman.
NEWS/
Leah Remini Leaves Church of Scientology
Larry Busacca/Getty Images for EJAFLeah Remini has apparently had enough.
The former King of Queens star has left the Church of Scientology, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.
On Thursday, The New York Post initially reported that Remini had decided to quit the controversial religion, citing a source's claim that the 43-year-old actress had been subjected to years of "interrogations" and "thought modification."
The New York Post's source added that Remini decided to cease being a parishioner, in part, because of policies preventing members to question the leadership of David Miscavige.
When asked for a comment, a rep for the Church of Scientology told E! News: "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member."
Former Scientoloigist Mike Rinder wrote on his blog earlier this week that when she attended the 2006 wedding of Scientologist Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Remini inquired as to why Miscavige's wife, Shelly, was not there.
Rinder then claimed that ex-Scientology Celebrity Centre head Tommy Davis immediately reprimanded Remini, saying, "You don't have the f--king rank to ask about Shelly."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "the Church of Scientology has denounced Rinder as unreliable and has repeatedly cautioned reporters about relying on him as a source."
Of course, Remini isn't the first famous face to leave the church. Others include Nicole Kidman and writer-directorPaul Haggis.
Earlier this year, Haggis appeared on Today to reveal why he walked away after being a member for more than 30 years.
"I was ashamed of my own stupidity, of how I could have been so blind for so many years," he said.
While Haggis admitted that Scientology did help him early on, over time he began to wonder what the Church really stood for and began doing some research.
Haggis said he came across articles that made allegations of abuse at the highest levels of the Church, of physical violence and reports of children being forced to work 12 to 16 hours a day.
The Church of Scientology, however, denied the allegations of abuse and insisted there is no evidence to support such claims.
UPDATE: Remini later issued a statement to People: "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."
Leah Remini at war with Scientology head: Blacklisted for asking question (Video)
Leah Remini is the latest celebrity to break from the Church of Scientology over their policies and leadership. Leah is quitting Scientology over leader David Miscavige’s management of the church, for alleged abuse at its Sea Org religious order and for its isolationist policies. Remini now feels the Church of Scientology is “corrupt” due to Miscavige’s role in leading the religious organization, according to the New York Post on Thursday, July 11. Leah is particularly taking aim at the church’s policy of forcing followers to “disconnect” from family members who decide to leave, labeling them “suppressive persons”. Remini was blacklisted several years ago for simply asking a question about Miscavige’s wife’s whereabouts.
Leah Remini the latest celeb to quit Scientology over leadership of controversial David Miscavige.
Photo credit:
Gawker/Getty images
Leah is said to still value the work of church founder L. Ron Hubbard, but won’t tolerate the current policies of excommunication that surround those who leave the church. She doesn’t think any organization should tear a family apart under the guise of “religion”.
The “King of Queens” star was subjected to years of “interrogations” and “thought modification” after questioning leader David Miscavige’s actions, according toFox News. It’s hard to imagine Remini being controlled by others in such a way, as she comes across as being someone very in control of herself.
In her most notable role as tough talking Carrie Heffernan on her sitcom, she questioned everything and everyone. Leah was also outspoken in her more recent stint as one of the co-hosts of “The Talk”.
The problems with her church started back in 2006 at Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ wedding, when Leah innocently asked where Miscavige’s wife Shelly was.
She was reprimanded by former Scientology Celebrity Center head Tommy Davis who responded, “You don’t have the [bleeping] rank to ask about Shelly”.
Church policy doesn’t allow parishioners to question Miscavige’s rule. Sources say Remini was repeatedly interrogated and blacklisted within the church to which the actress has donated millions.
The 43 year-old has been part of the church for the better part of three decades. No word yet on whether Leah will speak out publicly about her decision to sever ties with Scientology.
Report: Leah Remini Leaves Scientology After Years of 'Thought Modification'
July 12, 2013 00:00:49 GMT
The former 'King of Queens' star is allegedly against the church's policies that forbid parishioners to question David Miscavige's management and that demand them to cut all ties with family members who have been denounced by the church.
"It all began when Leah questioned the validity of excommunication of people," a source opened up to the news outlet. "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.' "
The report of Remini leaving Scientology was first broken out by Tony Ortega, who's writing a book about the controversial church and writes a blog about it. The actress allegedly alarmed the church's top execs after asking the whereabouts of church leader David Miscavige's wife.
Remini reportedly asked why Shelly, who has, according to Ortega, never been seen publicly since 2006 except for one in August 2007 when she was allowed to attend her father's funeral, was absent from Tom Cruiseand Katie Holmes' November 2006 wedding in Italy.
According toanother Scientology critic Mike Rinder, a former high-ranking member of the church, Remini was scolded by Tommy Davis, a then-head of the Scientology Celebrity Centre, for daring to ask such question. "You don't have the f***ing rank to ask about Shelly," Davis allegedly told her.
Remini, 43, has become a Scientologist for around three decades. Her mother joined the church, which followers include Cruise and John Travolta, in the 1970s. Remini is married to restaurateur Angelo Pagan, who is also a Scientologist. The couple has a nine-year-old daughter, Sofia.
She once was a fierce defender of the church. "If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church. If you're really against something, then know what you're against," she said in a 2001 interview.
Remini "remains convinced of the value of L. Ron Hubbard's work, but will no longer tolerate the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church. Nor will she allow anyone to tell her who she can and cannot talk to or associate with," Rinder said.
In response to the report, a Scientology rep said as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member." They also stated, "The Church of Scientology has denounced Rinder as unreliable and has repeatedly cautioned reporters about relying on him as a source."
Remini joins a series of public figures who have left the controversial church, including Cruise's ex-wives Nicole Kidman and Holmes, as well as writer-director Paul Haggis. He exited after being a member for many years. Earlier this year, Haggis said, "I was ashamed of my own stupidity, of how I could have been so blind for so many years."
Read more:http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00062118.html#ixzz2Yqn84by5
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