Leah Remini has sued the Church of Scientology in a wide-ranging lawsuit that includes claims of harassment, stalking and defamation.
Remini, who broke with the organization in 2013 before becoming a outspoken critic, alleges in a suit filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that she has been “stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated, and, moreover, has been the victim of intentional malicious and fraudulent rumors” to intimidate and silence her. She points to a “series of retaliatory activities” against people and groups deemed an “enemy” of the church.
The complaint names church chairman David Miscavige and the Religious Technology Center, which allegedly manages policing operations and enforces punitive measures. Remini seeks unspecified damages and a court order requiring the group and any entity it controls or funds to “cease and desist its harassment, defamation, and other unlawful conduct.”
A representative for the church didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, Remini said she’s been subjected to “psychological torture” for the past 17 years since she raised concerns about the absence of Miscavige’s wife at the wedding of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise — who the complaint says is “essentially second-in-command in Scientology” — in addition to questioning “unethical contacts” between various Scientology executives at the event.
“With this lawsuit, I hope to protect my rights as afforded by the Constitution of the United States to speak the truth and report the facts about Scientology,” Remini added. “I feel strongly that the banner of religious freedom does not give anyone license to intimidate, harass, and abuse those who exercise their First Amendment rights.”
The suit details internal church policies, operations and units — including the Office of Special Affairs, which allegedly handles punitive measures against people and groups critical of the church — that were established by Founder L. Ron Hubbard, according to the complaint. Under the church’s rules, directives originating from Hubbard cannot be changed, the suit says.
The church’s harassment of Remini was allegedly led by OSA and meant to “totally restrain and muzzle” her through a pattern of defamation, stalking and abuse. She says anyone in her orbit — including family, friends, business partners, advertisers, potential employers and staff — was similarly targeted.
The suit was filed as Danny Masterson, a member of the church, awaits sentencing after being found guilty of raping two women at his Los Angeles home in the early 2000s. The church played a prominent role in the trial, with accusations that the organization looked to silence his accusers, who testified that they feared being labeled a “suppressive person.” They’re pursuing a civil case against the church, alleging that they’ve been harassed after reporting their alleged rapes to law enforcement. Last year, the Supreme Court turned down a bid by the church to handle the case in arbitration.
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August 03, 2023 at 01:06AM
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Leah Remini Hits Church of Scientology With Harassment and Defamation Lawsuit - Hollywood Reporter
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