When Leah Remini severed ties the Church of Scientology in 2013, she could not have imagined the repercussions that would follow.
In her new book, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology”, Remini tells of her 30 years as a devout Scientologist and how she was able to escape it thanks to best friend, Jennifer Lopez.
Leah was not the only family member who was a Scientologist.
Her mother, daughter and husband were also devout members of the church.
In a video clip from her TLC show, “Leah Remini: It’s All Relative”, she said, “We didn’t have a choice and there are pretty hard repercussions to leave it.”
When she left she expected a backlash from the church. However, she didn’t know that her family and friends were instructed to disconnect from her because she was labeled a “suppressive person.”
In fact, actress and former friend Kirstie Alley no longer speaks to her. And while the pressure from the church has been difficult, she says she has no choice because she is doing this for her daughter, Sophia. Leah said, “I didn’t want to raise my daughter in the church because from what I experienced and what I saw, the church becomes everything, your mother, your father, your everything. You are dependent on the church. In ten years, if I didn’t want to be connected to the church anymore, my own daughter would be taught to disconnect from me. I didn’t want to create that. I didn’t think that would be healthy for her.”
The church, on the other hand, has said Leah is “shamelessly exploiting her former religion in a pathetic attempt to get publicity.”
“Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology” is available November 3, 2015.
