Leah Remini, an actress and former member of the Church of Scientology, has filed a lawsuit against the church, accusing it of using “mob-style tactics” to harass and defame her. The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Los Angeles County, lists the church, its Religious Technology Center, and David Miscavige as defendants. Remini alleges that she has suffered psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation from the church and its leader for 17 years.
In a statement on social media, Remini stated, “I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last.” The lawsuit claims that Remini has been under constant threat and assault since leaving Scientology and seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages for economic and psychological harm.
The church responded to the lawsuit, calling it “ludicrous and the allegations pure lunacy.” They described it as Remini’s “latest act of blatant harassment and attempt to prevent truthful free speech.” The Church of Scientology has been the subject of criticism for years, with Remini being one of its most vocal critics.
During her acting career, Remini, best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan in “The King of Queens”, has used her platforms to expose the darker sides of Scientology. She published a book titled “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology” in 2015 and hosted and produced an Emmy Award-winning documentary TV series called “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath”.
The lawsuit provides details of Remini’s time in the church, including allegations of abuse and forced labor. It claims that she was forced to sign a billion-year contract and underwent “verbally, physically, and sexually abusive” practices. The lawsuit also refers to a process known as the “truth rundown” that is meant to erase a Scientologist’s memories and implant new ones. Remini alleges that she was sent to a facility in Florida for this process and was “nearing the point of psychotic breakdown” after months of psychological torture.
In addition to the allegations of abuse, the lawsuit claims that the church and its defendants engaged in a decade-long “mass coordinated social media effort” against Remini, spreading false and malicious information about her. Remini’s lawyer argues that people should be free to share their experiences and stories without fearing retaliation from a cult with tax exemption and billions in assets.
The lawsuit marks the culmination of years of criticism by Remini and other former members of Scientology. It will be interesting to see how the legal battle unfolds and what impact it may have on the church’s reputation.