Leah Remini Reveals Child Abuse, Stalking & Sex Harassment Claims
Oct. 30 2015, Updated 9:27 a.m. ET
Leah Remini isn't afraid anymore. The ex-Scientologist, 45, reveals the church's darkest secrets in her upcoming memoir, Troublemaker— and RadarOnline.com can exclusively share her jaw-dropping true tales.
Leah Remini isn't afraid anymore. The ex-Scientologist, 45, reveals the church's darkest secrets in her upcoming memoir, Troublemaker— and RadarOnline.com can exclusively share her jaw-dropping true tales.
Celebs Doing An Interview For EXTRA
After Remini joined the church as a child with her mother, Vicki, she says she immediately witnessed sexual harassment against her sister, Nicole. "You have big t*ts for such a young girl," she claims a male supervisor said.
USA – Church of Scientology Building in Los Angeles
Shocking new accusations: At just 13, Remini writes, she was forced to perform 12 hours of hard labor a day as a member of Scientology's Sea Org in Clearwater, Florida. After signing a notorious billion-year contract, the actress says she spent her youth "pulling up tree roots with our bare hands, working heavy machinery…and cleaning bathrooms and hotel rooms."
Scientology buildings can be seen all over the Hollywood area, LA
To demonstrate she understood the rules stating not to have sex or any physical contact before marriage, Remini says she was told to "physically act out the sexual policy" using office supplies. "I took a paper clip and a chess piece, to stand for the girl and boy, and rubbed them together," she writes.
2010 Summer TCA Tour – Day 1
Babies in danger: Remini claims her infant sister, Shannon, and other small children of Sea Org members were left in a motel room "nursery" for 15 hours a day under supervision of just one young teen— and the conditions were "devastating." The room "was filled with cribs of crying, neglected babies, flies, and the smell of dirty diapers," she writes. "The only ventilation came from a huge fan by the window…The neglect was overwhelming."
Celebrities Enjoy A Night Out At Aventine Hollywood
For her hard labor, Remini claims she was only paid $15 dollars a week, and fed just rice and beans or liquid eggs. She was so hungry, she says she stole food from a hotel restaurant.
Leah Remini, Tony Dovolani And Jack Black On “Extra”
A year later, Remini, her mother and sisters moved to Los Angeles. Though she was just a young teenager, she and her sister dropped out of high school. Her mother "felt, as do most Scientologists, that studying Scientology is more important than getting a traditional education," she claims. She works as a telemarketer and waitress.
Leah Remini Stops By The Nail Salon
Betrayed by mom! All Scientologists were told to tattle on other members breaking the strict rules, even if the "troublemaker" was a family member. Remini's mother, Vicki, wrote a "Knowledge Report" on her daughter for drinking as a teen.
Celebs Doing An Interview For EXTRA
Ruling her life. As an adult and accomplished actress, Remini claims Scientology still called the shots. After the star had dated her boyfriend, fellow Scientologist Angelo Pagan, her "Ethics Officer" ordered them to wed. (Despite the order, Remini explains, divorce is rampant in Scientology and families are often broken apart.)
Leah Remini Out And About In NYC
Destroying families and friendships: Remini claims all church members must completely cut off communication from any ex-member or individual deemed a Suppressive Person, or someone who criticizes or defies the church.
Actress Leah Remini films a live episode of the TV show ‘EXTRA’ in Los Angeles
A money scam? Remini stresses that even before she was famous, Scientology was a huge cost. But when she hit it big, she was expected to donate millions to the church— she estimates she spent a shocking $5 million overall. She says she rarely knew where the money went. After donating $50,000 to fellow member Kirstie Alley's church volunteer group to donate water and food to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans, Remini says the church failed to show her any evidence that the group did anything to help the suffering.
Launch Of VIVA GLAM Celebrity Issue Hosted By Leah Remini
Remini began to learn the truth about her religion when she defied orders and started investigating abuse claims. She says she heard from several eyewitnesses that members were humiliated and beaten in the Hole, an area on Gold Base, a church compound in Southern California, under orders from church leader David Miscavige. "Leaders of my church…were subjected to punishments like being made to lick bathroom floors or being doused in cold water, punishments that were so bad they felt they had no other choice but to flee," she writes.
Jennifer Lopez wearing shorts and a cut out black top was seen leaving Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills with her best friend Leah Remini
She claims she learned her friend Sherry's brother, Stefan, lost his wife Tanja to the Gold Base for seven years. Though she repeatedly attempted to escape, she was caught each time and brought back to the base.
US Chairman of the Board Religious Techn
Remini eventually left the church in 2013, and filed a missing persons report on Miscivage's wife Shelley, whom no one had seen in six years.
ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” – Season 17 – Week 7
After leaving the church, Remini joined Dancing With the Stars— which she claims angered Scientology leaders. Even her professional partner, Tony Dovolani, was "surveilled and followed by a car for two weeks."
ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” – Season 17 – Week 1
Remini lost many, many friends after leaving the church— but best friend Jennifer Lopez had her back. Though Lopez' father is a Scientologist, she said she would never abandon her. "You are my friend. I don't want to ever talk about this bullsh*t again," Remini claims Lopez said.