Leah Remini to turn Scientology experience into a TV show?
Fox News/June 30, 2016
By Diana Falzone
Actress Leah Remini has hardly kept quiet since she left the Church of Scientology. Now, she’s rumored to be producing a series about the way the church allegedly tears families apart.
News of the series was announced on journalist Tony Ortega’s blog, “The Underground Bunker,” which primarily covers the Scientology world. It was Ortega who broke the news that Remini was leaving the Church in 2013.
Ortega told FOX411 via email that he can’t divulge much about Remini’s series, but did speak with a family participating in the show. “I talked to a family last week that was filmed for Leah's show, and that's when I decided to say something, when I realized Leah was already shooting footage,” he said.
But will Remini’s spotlight on the religion help or hurt ex-Scientologists’ mission to take down the church?
Steven Hassan, author of “Combating Cult Mind Control,” said such a series could have a mixed effect.
“In my experience, doing media does get the cult’s attention on the specific members, and I would predict Scientology leadership will not wish members to watch segments produced about them,” he said. “But sometimes this backfires, and can move some people further out of the group, especially if they are on the fence. Unfortunately, with Scientology, [leadership] could further restrict access to the outside world.”
Rick Ross, founder and executive director of the Cult Education Institute, said a series on how Scientology treats families is much-needed.
“The public should know that Scientology has routinely declared people SP (a suppressive person) and then encouraged Scientologists, including family members, to disconnect from SPs or risk being labeled a PTS (Potential Trouble Source). This policy has hurt many families,” he said. “Exposing the pain is a public service. A victim suffering in silence is not a solution.”
Hassan said he hopes Remini’s rumored series comes to fruition. “I have my fingers crossed for Leah’s project,” he said.
“The King of Queens” star is not a stranger to speaking out about the Church of Scientology. She recounted her 30 years as a Scientologist in her 2015 memoir, “Troublemaker: Surviving Scientology and Hollywood.” In her book, she recounted some stories of top Scientology celebrity Tom Cruise behavior; talked about her being deemed as a “Suppressive Person,” and reviewed accounts of what some have deemed the outrageous practices of L. Ron Hubbard’s religion.
The Church of Scientology has called Remini a “spoiled entitled diva.”
“She needs to move on with her life instead of pathetically exploiting her former religion, her former friends and other celebrities for money and attention to appear relevant again,” the church stated in an article published on its website back in April.
The church also claims Remini was “expelled” after an “ecclesiastical review.”
“She now regurgitates the tired myths the Church has repeatedly debunked, circulated by the same tiny clique of expelled former staffers bitter at having lost the positions they enjoyed before their malfeasance and unethical conduct were uncovered,” the statement said.
Leah Remini and Church of Scientology did not return FOX411’s request for comment.
To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.
