Most people know actress and producer Leah Remini from TV shows like “The King of Queens” and “The Man in the Family.” But in recent years, she has been called to a very different line of work, helping people leave the Church of Scientology. During that time, she has been a fierce critic of Scientology and has attempted to expose what she feels is a pattern of disturbing behavior by the Church. But now things have ramped up a notch. On Wednesday, Remini filed a lawsuit in California against the Church and its leader, David Miscavige, for what she describes as a series of stalking and harassment incidents.
I wanted to share some important news.
After 17 years of harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation, I am filing a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige.
While advocating for victims of Scientology has significantly impacted my life and career,…
— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) August 2, 2023
In the 60-page lawsuit, Remini claims she has been:
stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated, and, moreover, has been the victim of intentional malicious and fraudulent rumors via hundreds of Scientology-controlled and -coordinated social media accounts that exist solely to intimidate and spread misinformation.
In addition, the lawsuit alleges that when Remini left the Church in 2013, they declared her a “Suppressive Person.” This is someone who the Church believes has committed “serious offenses against the Scientology faith” and is thus “declared Fair Game” by the Church. Remini also claims that the Church has “harassed, threatened, intimidated, and embarrassed” family members, friends, and colleagues, and this has ultimately led to the loss of “relationships, contracts and opportunities.” Remini says that she is being barred from “exercising her First Amendment right and moral duty to speak out about Scientology’s conduct.” The suit is attempting to “recover compensatory and punitive damages for the enormous economic and psychological harm” she (Remini) has endured at the hands of the church.”
Leah Remini is suing Scientology!!!!
Her lawyers filed a 60 page complaint for damages and a jury trial against David Miscaviage, the Church of Scientology Intl. & Religious Technology Center Inc.Go kick some ass @LeahRemini !
Here’s the full complaint:https://t.co/zJkLVkNSQE pic.twitter.com/pYQSbJbnzR
— Where is Shelly Miscaviage? (@wog20471) August 2, 2023
Leah Remini’s journey through the Church of Scientology began at the age of eight when her mother joined the Church. Remini explained that Scientologists view children and adults in the same way, and therefore children are held responsible for negative events in their lives, and even those they have no control over are their fault. She goes on to say that, from the age of 16, she had no formal education and was forced to work for the Church. Fast forward to 2006, and what the Church billed as “The Wedding of the Century,” between actors Tom Cruise, a devout Scientologist, and Katie Holmes. Remini and her husband attended the wedding, at which Remini asked Miscavige why his wife Michele, known as “Shelley,” was not in attendance. Shelley Miscavige has not been seen in public since 2007, and it took Remini herself to file a missing persons report on her in 2013. There are several theories as to Shelley Miscavige’s whereabouts. Remini says it was at the Cruise/Holmes wedding that she began to have a lot of questions about Scientology.
Among some of Remini’s other allegations is that in 2015, while on a book tour, the Church hired private investigators to follow her. She claimed that being followed was so intimidating that she feared “for her physical safety.” A&E executives and advertisers were also allegedly harassed during the run of her docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” where she detailed the often harrowing experiences of other former Scientologists allegedly at the hands of the Church. And even this year, Remini claims that someone took a hammer to her mailbox in an attempt to get her mail.
In a statement, Leah Remini seemed to speak not just for herself but also for others who may have felt the long arm of the Church of Scientology. She said:
The press has a right to report about Scientology without facing a sophisticated intelligence operation from Scientology to destroy their personal lives and their careers. Law enforcement authorities have a right to investigate crimes in Scientology without fear that they will lose their jobs. With this lawsuit, I hope to protect the rights afforded to them and me by the Constitution of the United States to speak the truth and report the facts about Scientology without fear of vicious and vindictive retribution, of which most have no way to fight back.
Thus far, there has been no comment from the Church of Scientology regarding the lawsuit.
BREAKING
Leah Remini is suing Scientology and David Miscavige.
Details and the complaint in my story which I will be updating throughout the day. https://t.co/QFUx0IsXzZ
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 2, 2023
