Leah Remini On Scientology: 'I Wanted to Be The One to Say It' [VIDEO]
Actress Leah Remini, a former member of Scientology talks about her experiences and thoughts about the church. This week the former 'King of Queens' actress sat down with ABC News "20/20" on an exclusive interview about what her life was like inside the Church of Scientology, discussed how Tom Cruise, the church's most famous member, was a factor in her leaving.
"I know what my former Church-- how they deal with people who tell their story," Remini told "20/20." "And so I wanted to be the one to say it."
According to ABC news, over the week the members of the Church of Scientology delivered multiple documents and emails and made numerous phone calls to ABC News containing highly critical statements about Leah Remini, calling her a liar, 'self-absorbed, rude and embarrassing,' and saying she is attempting to "rewrite the truth" in order to sell her new book.
The actress, who is promoting her memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, out next week had already made headlines since 2013 about the said church, which she joined under the supervision of her mother, Vicki Marshall at a young age.
Reports on Entertainment Weekly say that "she filed such reports on family members, friends, and even Tom Cruise, arguably Scientology's most influential member. She said, she reported Cruise for public behavior she deemed unsuitable and damaging to the church, like jumping on Oprah's couch, arguing with Matt Lauer in an interview, and criticizing Brooke Shields for using antidepressants to treat her postpartum depression. But calling out Cruise backfired: "Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself," she said. "You are evil."
The 20/20 interview reveals comments from officials of the Scientology Church say that Remini's claims were "ridiculous," "stupid," and attention-grabbing attempts to stay "relevant."
"We are very happy that Ms. Remini is no longer in the church," the church said in a statement.
The actress also added, "I don't regret what I've been through. I don't regret spending my life there, because it really did teach me a lot. And because we all survived it. ... We all have a gift of a second chance at life."
The full interview with Remini will air Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
