Leah Remini on CoS: ‘It’s all we really knew. But over time, my eyes got opened’

I forgot that Leah Remini is doing Dancing with the Stars this season. That should be good. I’m being serious! Leah loves to cuss, so ABC is going to have a hell of a time bleeping her during rehearsals. These are some pics of Leah going into DWTS rehearsals last week – say goodbye to your feet, Leah. Maybe she’ll survive all of the cuts – DWTS memorably had Kirstie Alley on a few years ago, and that was full of Xenu propaganda and craziness. It should get interesting… do you think the Church of Scientology cares enough to actively try to destroy Leah’s chances on DWTS? I do.

Speaking of all of that, Leah was Ellen DeGeneres first celebrity guest on yesterday’s premiere of Ellen’s Season 11. Amazingly enough, Ellen didn’t walk on eggshells around the subject of Xenu, although Ellen wasn’t, like, going full-force either. I’m sure Ellen and Leah agreed to talk about it beforehand, and while Leah’s answers felt rehearsed, they also seemed… pained. Like she’s sad about everything that’s gone down.

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Leah says, “We lost friends who can no longer talk to us who are still in the organization…But we have other friends, who are not in the church, who have stood by us and that’s all we can ask for.” Leah also explains how she got involved with Xenu: “My mother got involved when we were very young, so it’s all we really knew. But over time, my eyes got opened and I could just no longer be affiliated with the organization, and my family felt the same, so we left.”

Does anyone else think it’s interesting that Ellen seemed unafraid of asking some pointed questions about CoS? It’s almost like people are no longer afraid of what David Miscavige could do to them. Plus, I’d rather have Ellen DeGeneres on my side as opposed to… John Travolta?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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30 Responses to “Leah Remini on CoS: ‘It’s all we really knew. But over time, my eyes got opened’”

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  1. Anne De Vries says:

    Note that she also pointedly calls it an ‘organisation’. No upkeeping the ‘it’s a religion that’s not for me’ crock there. Nice. Of course I wish it was sharper, but this is maybe the kind of mainstream attention needed.

    And you bet that Co$ is still very invested in seeing her fail. They tell their followers over and over that they are nothing without CoS, that they’ll be in the gutter if they leave, so anything Leah does now that’s successful is proving them wrong. They want nothing more than to watch her fail very publically and dramatically

    • msw says:

      The thing is, there are public scientologists who believe in the religion but have separated themselves from the centers–i believe there are even some centers that are unaffiliated with the church. Calling it an organization is spot on, because imo, it’s the organization that is doing the most damage, not the belief in the religion. Most religion sounds like it was made up on a dare to me, but even in scientology, it can be practiced without the organization.

      I haven’t had my coffee yet so i don’t know if any of my little brain droppings are making sense. But anyway, i want her whole outfit.

      • phlyfiremama says:

        I know!! That dress is AWESOME!!!

      • Anne De Vries says:

        I support the Freezoners simply because they provide a gateway for scientologists who seek an out of the oppressive organisation but aren’t ready to give up the beliefs.
        But make no mistake in that I think that scientology itself is a toxic, toxic mess. The current organisation may have excesses but the poison was always there, all the abusive practices and the paranoid defensiveness? It’s right down at the base of Hubbard’s writings. The current leaders didn’t invent Fair Game, or Disconnection, or burying people in lawsuits, or spying and betraying each other, or recording sessions for leverage, or sec checks, or any of that. Hubbard did. And I think there’s a danger in comfortably pointing the finger at Miscavige and ignoring the toxic mess that’s at the base of Hubbard’s writing.

    • stinky says:

      she’s also gonna save alot of MONEY! …which she can now give elsewhere (if she chooses) or whatever. God knows how much money these big-hitters give to that group. its unbelievable.

  2. Lake Mom says:

    I love how she called it an organization rather than a religion. She’s a brave woman and I hope she helps others leave the cult.

  3. siobhan says:

    Glad Ellen didn’t avoid the COS questions. I am happy for Leah and she looks great in these pictures.

    • LadyMTL says:

      Same here, I was pleased to see that Ellen didn’t avoid the topic. I mean okay, it wasn’t exactly the most hard-hitting interview but I can only imagine how strange and awkward it must have felt for Leah to be up there talking about it at all.

      Good for the both of them!

      • Lucinda says:

        It was enough. Remember that for people who don’t follow celebrity gossip, many are completely unaware of just how nefarious COS is. Just to hear that an organization cuts you off from your friends and family is pretty shocking stuff if you’ve never heard it before. And LOTS of people watch Ellen so I think this is pretty damaging.

  4. Kiddo says:

    I don’t think CoS wields the power it once did in Hollywood. So I think Ellen isn’t being particularly brave in addressing it head on, her career will not suffer as a result. Leah looks great.

    • respect says:

      Cos had a good run with cruiae travolta and alley in the 80s and 90s but that ship has sailed and they have no hot young power players to become face of the cult. It is weakening but i fear it will use its immense monetary resources and psycho followes to strike out like a wounded animal toward the people who are jelping expose it. Read tony ortega. Fascinating.

  5. blue marie says:

    Leah looks great, glad see’s not afraid to talk about CoS and good on her for calling it an organization instead of a religion.

  6. lisa says:

    i’d rather be friends with ellen than any COS member i can think of

  7. Isa says:

    She looks really good! I’m loving that outfit!

  8. SusieQ2 says:

    There are bound to be already-doubting cult members who saw this and I bet MissCabbage is having a meltdown over it.

    I love Ellen for being her friend and assuring her she’s got her back. She rocks!

    And I want Leahs shoes.

  9. Anki says:

    Rooting for Leah!!

  10. Gia says:

    I think Leah’s best course of action is to stay present and keep talking. She is popular and well liked by the public. She can’t let the organization take over by smearing her public persona. Staying in the spotlight reminds people who she is and telling her story keeps the truth straight from the COS propaganda.

  11. Eva says:

    Awww, good on Ellen! I ‘m sure it helps others, still in the cult , to see big names asking pointed questions.

    I cheer every little crack in the facade!

  12. Sam says:

    I’m impressed that Leah is basically coming out and confirming that “disconnection” exists. The Church keeps insisting that it doesn’t, that people are free to stay in contact with their family and friends who leave. I hope that she continues talking about it. Frankly, I don’t much object to Scientology freaky beliefs in aliens, Xenu and all that jazz (it’s no weirder than some other religions out there, and I myself belong to a religion that probably qualifies as “weird” so I don’t judge that). But any church that would actively break up families and friends who might slightly disagree is terrible. For that alone, COS deserves the scrutiny.

    • msw says:

      Right? It’s absurd. There have been countless accounts from ex scientologists who confirm that COS constantly threatens their Sea Org members with SP status. Who do they think they’re fooling?

  13. mslewis says:

    Leah looks so great. I love the 50s vive she’s giving. The dress and shoes are very pretty.

    I never criticize anyone’s religion (even if it is a cult) but it’s nice when a famous person comes out of the darkness and realizes the truth for themselves about CoS.

  14. KellyInSeattle says:

    I’ve always thought she’s gorgeous and super funny, and on a lighter note, have a secret crush on Kevin James on King of Queens; well, I guess it’s not a secret anymore 🙂

  15. Emily C. says:

    I actually recognize the names of most of the “stars” on DWTS this season. That’s the first time it’s ever happened. I wonder if they’re paying more or something. (Do they pay at all?)

    I’m glad Ellen has the ovaries to ask questions that most mainstream journalists shy away from.

  16. ncmagnolia says:

    Reeaallyy glad Ellen asked the question. I feel for Leah, it must be devastating to lose friends you’ve had for your entire life.

    What I don’t understand is why Co$ keeps getting away with their exploitation and abuse of members? Is no one other than Tony Ortega investigating and continuously bringing pressure to bear on this cult?

  17. Tara says:

    Leah looks so amazing here, and she handled herself with grace and wit. Ellen also did a great job asking one of the more compelling questions in a way that most people can relate. I’ve loved Ellen since her days as a bit actor on some sitcom set in a real estate office. She really hasn’t lost an ounce of her charm. They both executed a flawless one two punch. Totally girl crushing on them both.