Leah Remini says Tom Cruise thinks she’s “literally the devil” for leaving Scientology, the actress said in an interview on “Larry King Now” on Friday.
During an appearance to promote her A&E docuseries “Scientology and the Aftermath,” Remini told King that given the chance, Tom Cruise, the most high-profile Scientologist, wouldn’t speak to her, the controversial church’s most outspoken critic.
“He wouldn’t say anything to me, because he thinks I’m the devil,” the “King of Queens” actress said. “He honestly believes … Tom and most Scientologists, all Scientologists are taught to believe that people like me are literally the devil, that we mean them harm.”
Remini also said that even though she believes Cruise is a true believer in the church’s teachings, he is “well-aware” of the negative impact it has on people’s lives.
“Tom is very well-aware of what is Scientology, truthfully,” she said. “He is very well-aware that it’s an organization that is defrauding people out of their lives. But in his heart, I believe he believes it.”
“Tom is a fully dedicated and loyal Scientologist. Absolutely, she continued. “I believe that he, like me, has been lied to.”
When asked if the “Mission Impossible” star could be described as “delusional,” Remini agreed, adding, “I could say that about myself at the time.”
“I didn’t want to look, I didn’t want to believe that what I’ve been involved in my whole life was a lie, that it was damaging and hurting people,” she said. “Yeah, you can say I was delusional.”