Leah Remini Files Lawsuit Against Church of Scientology: ‘Psychological Torture’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Leah Remini, actress and outspoken activist against Scientology, has filed a lawsuit for defamation, harassment, surveillance and other unlawful behaviors that resulted in “psychological torture” against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige.
Remini became a part of the church as a child in 1979 and left in 2013 due to “’mob-style operations and attacks’ [that] have ‘significantly’ affected her life and career.”
In a press release on Wednesday, Remini stated, “For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment and intimidation, significantly impacting my life and career. I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last.”
According to Buzzfeed News, “The Church of Scientology has previously condemned Leah’s criticism of the religion since her departure.”
“It is Remini who is the attacker,” they told PEOPLE in 2017. “Her whole anti-Scientology shtick was scripted and choreographed by her, casting herself in her drama as the ‘victim’ so she could cash in on her false narrative while savaging her friends and those who helped her most of her life.”
Despite the pushback, Remini continues to fight against Scientology. Her documentary LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH aired for three seasons. In it, she shares multiple experiences of people victimized by the organization.
Movieguide® previously reported on Remini’s efforts to help victims of Scientology:
“Finally, victims are being heard when it comes to Scientology! Praise the lord! This is just the beginning Scientology, your days of getting away with it is coming to an end!” This was in response to the arrest of actor Danny Masterson, best known from THAT 70’s SHOW, who was accused of and convicted on rape charges. Danny Masterson is a member of the Church of Scientology.
Yahoo! Entertainment shared some of Remini’s experiences. The actress was held against her will at a Scientology facility for four months for asking where David Miscavige’s wife, Shelly Miscavige, was. According to a PEOPLE article, Shelly had disappeared for several years but has since been found.
“After months of psychological torture, Ms. Remini was nearing the point of psychotic breakdown. She finally gave in, rescinded all of her reports, and admitted that she was the problem in this situation (despite it not being true),” the lawsuit alleges.
Last week, Remini posted about her lawsuit on Instagram.
In a lengthy caption, she stated, “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. ”
Movieguide® previously reported on Tom Cruise, another well-known Scientologist:
Cruise’s status in the Church of Scientology reportedly makes sharing the Gospel with him difficult. According to ex-Scientologist Leah Remini, the church considers Cruise a “deity,” and in a recent interview with CBN Faithwire, Novak explained that the church allegedly sends bodyguards everywhere with Cruise to “protect his mind” from anti-Scientology content…
“That guy [the bodyguard] comes to me and I try to hug the gift bag to the poster [I had for him to sign] the best I could,” Novak said. “He did not notice it, and I know that’s by the grace of God.
“When Tom got up to me…he sees the gift and Tom’s like, ‘I really appreciate this, man. Thank you so much,’” Novak said. “And in there, I had two letters for him. I had handwritten him a letter and then I printed off a bunch of stuff just hardcore exposing [Scientology]. Normally, I don’t do that, because, at the end of the day, it’s the Gospel that breaks through to people — it’s the truth of God’s Word. If I start attacking your faith, then you’re gonna shut down to me before you even hear anything.”
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