Monday, November 4, 2024

“King of Queens” Star Leah Remini Escapes Scientology

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“King of Queens” star Leah Remini has reportedly left — er, escaped– Scientology. The New York Post took credit for the scoop but they got it from Tony Ortega’s fascinating blog. (www.tonyortega.org) The former Village Voice editor is writing a book about Scientology and keeps up with it at an amazing clip.

Remini apparently grew disaffected from Scientology after questioning leader David Miscavige about many things including his long-missing wife, Shelly Miscavige. Remini’s exit is major because Scientology keeps a tight grip on celebrity members and uses them to attract new members. They’re also the cult’s big money makers, donating millions.

It could be that Remini, who’s been off TV for a while, isn’t as important to Miscavige anymore. Ortega says that at Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’s wedding in 2006, Remini questioned Miscavige regarding his wife’s whereabouts. After the wedding she filed a “report” on Miscavige, and was then punished.

Remini now joins Oscar winning director Paul Haggis, actor Jason Beghe and possible Lisa Marie Presley on the list of celebs who’ve made it over the wall. Remini faces some obstacles because her mother, sisters, and stepfather remain deeply embedded in Scientology. The cult forces members to “disconnect” from exiles and have nothing to do with them again. So if she’s actually made the break, Remini is tremendously brave.

Stay tuned because there’s more…

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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