Leah Remini Televises Her Break From Scientology


Leah Remini, the former star of the popular CBS sitcom The King of Queens, left the Church of Scientology last summer and her ongoing, and very public, battle with the secretive religious organization has been the subject of media scrutiny ever since. Both sides have claimed slander against the other, as Remini claimed that she was only trying to protect her daughter, Sofia, and she has accused the church of hurting her career, while the Scientologists–in this case, other successful actors such as Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley, who are also members of the church–claim that Remini has spread lies and fabrications about their religion.

On July 10, Remini will return to television with a new TLC reality series titled Leah Remini: It’s All Relative, and the premiere two-part episode will deal with the ramifications of Remini’s split from the church. The new show will feature Remini and her husband, Angelo Pagan, as well as Remini’s family–and extended family–as they try to live their lives together in Southern California. The Discovery Communication Network, who owns TLC, made the announcement Tuesday morning, and Remini was on hand to talk about the 12 half-hour episodes.

“I’m so happy to be opening my home to TLC and to be sharing my family with you,” Remini said during Tuesday’s announcement. “Beware — In these last 13 weeks of working on the show, my mother and stepfather already feel they are the true talent and breakouts of the show and expect to be offered sitcoms.”

The public break from the Church of Scientology will be addressed as Remini and Pagan host a party for their friends that stuck with the beleaguered actress during the break up with the church. Remini most notably questioned the “disappearance” of Michelle ‘Shelly’ Miscavige, the wife of the Church of Scientology leader, David Miscavige. Shelly Miscavige had not been seen publicly since 2007, according to Remini, and she demanded that the church produce proof that she is alive. Remini even went so far as to file a missing person’s report with the LAPD, which has since been closed after officials met with both David and Shelly Miscavige during the investigation.

Leah Remini, 44, first found fame on King of Queens playing Carrie, the wife of Doug (Kevin James) whose weekly shenanigans entertained viewers for nine years. After Queens was cancelled, Remini joined the cast of The Talk, an all-women talk show that mirrored Barbara Walter’s The View. She was fired in 2011 due to her opinions and very brash behavior.

In September of 2013, Remini joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars and survived 10 weeks before being cut right before the finals.

Image courtesy of FanPop

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