Actress Leah Remini (53), best known from the cult sitcom “King of Queens”, has been campaigning against the controversial Scientology faith movement for years. Remini has now filed a lawsuit against the organization in Los Angeles. “After 17 years of harassment, intimidation, surveillance and defamation, I am filing a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige,” she wrote on Instagram.
In her lawsuit, Remini alleges, among other things, that Scientology has been following her since she left in 2013 and violated her privacy in order to silence her. Since then, she has reported on her experiences in the dubious organization in various ways. For example, her documentary series “Leah Remini: Life After Scientology” (2016-2019) dealt with her and the experiences of other dropouts. Her 2015 memoir “Troublemaker: How I Survived Hollywood and Scientology” also deals with these experiences.
In her lawsuit, which is available among other things from Page Six, Remini alleges that Scientology uses hundreds of social network accounts to spread “deliberately malicious and false rumors” about her. After the publication of her memoirs, she was also followed by private detectives hired by Scientology.
The measures of intimidation mentioned against them are also aimed at other dropouts and are symptomatic of how former members of the organization are treated. As a result, Remini lost both personal relationships and business opportunities. Now the actress is demanding compensation from Scientology for “immense economic and psychological damage.”
“Although my service to Scientology victims has had a significant impact on my life and career, Scientology’s ultimate goal of silencing me has not been achieved,” she continues on Instagram, adding, “People who share what they experienced in Scientology, and those who tell their stories and advocate for them, should be free to do so without fear of retaliation from a tax-exempt, billion-dollar cult.”
The press also has “the right to report on Scientology without having to face an elaborate Scientology intelligence operation that destroys their personal lives and careers. Law enforcement agencies have the right to investigate crimes committed in Scientology without fear that they… lose their job,” said Remini.
