Leah Remini Slams Tom Cruise as ‘Diabolical,’ Not a Good Person
The former Scientologist held a Reddit AMA about the Church earlier this week
Beatrice Verhoeven | August 18, 2017 @ 7:38 AM
Last Updated: August 18, 2017 @ 2:18 PM
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Leah Remini did not hold back when she was asked whether Tom Cruise was a good person during a Reddit AMA about Scientology earlier this week.
“I’m just going to get straight to it,” one user asked. “Is Tom Cruise a good person?”
“No! Just going to get straight to it, no!” Remini responded. “There is a public persona of the guy who looks at you directly in the eye and shakes your hand and hugs you and is an attentive person to you and there’s the person behind the mask who is a completely different person.”
She added, “Someone could say we all have that — what we are to the public and who we are behind the scenes, but the people who are around Tom and work for Tom, not even people who are Scientologists, they will say he is diaboloical [sic]. People who’ve worked with me will say I can be an asshole – all actors can be. That is different. He’s very similar to David Miscavige, they could be twins.”
Miscavige is the leader of the Church of Scientology — his official title is Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center (RTC).
The 47-year-old actress answered AMA questions to promote the upcoming season of her Scientology take-down series “Scientology and the Aftermath.”
The former Scientologist, who had been raised as one, left the Church in 2013 and has since been very outspoken about the Church. The Church has repeatedly denounced Remini and her accusations, even launching a website to counter the claims made in “Scientology and the Aftermath.”
The eight-episode, hour-long series follows Remini along with high level former Scientology executives and Church members, as they explore stories of abuse and harassment those who have left the Church say they have endured. In the premiere episode of the series, Remini spoke with several former Scientologists who claim they witnessed and were victims of multiple abuses during their time in the Church.
Last year, Remini told Larry King that Cruise thinks she’s “literally the devil” for leaving Scientology: “Tom and most Scientologists, all Scientologists are taught to believe that people like me are literally the devil, that we mean them harm.”
A spokesperson for Cruise has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment. The Church said in a statement to TheWrap, “The Church responded with Remini’s purpose is to incite hate and bigotry against a worldwide religion and its parishioners and she will stop at nothing to grab attention. In this day of heightened awareness against intolerance, it is disappointing that responsible media would forward such hateful propaganda.”
See Remini’s answer below.
17 Hollywood Stars Who Dabbled in or Abandoned Scientology: From Leah Remini to Jerry Seinfeld (Photos)
Leah Remini left in 2013, citing her frustration with not being able to challenge the church's beliefs and before her daughter was of age to begin "the acclimation into the church."
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While married to Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes was reportedly uncomfortable with Scientology's teachings and didn't want their daughter raised in the religion, especially in light of her own Catholic upbringing.
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Nicole Kidman severed ties from the church when she divorced Tom Cruise in 2001.
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In 2009, Paul Haggis left the church after 35 years in protest of their support of California's Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage in the state.
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Lisa Marie Presley left Scientology sometime around 2012 after being raised in the church by her mother, Priscilla Presley.
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In 1997 divorce papers, Tom Berenger cited his soon-to-be-ex-wife Lisa's deep-rooted Scientology beliefs as a reason for the dissolution of their marriage.
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Christopher Reeve said in his autobiography that he became disillusioned with the religion when auditing failed to detect blatant lies he was telling.
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Mimi Rogers is often credited with introducing Tom Cruise to Scientology, but after their marriage ended, so did her relationship with the church -- though he remains the Church's most active famous member.
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A child actor who was introduced to the church by an acting coach, Jason Beghe laughed off Scientology with friend David Duchovny after he left. While he was an active member, their friendship was strained, and Duchovny was labeled a "suppresive person" by the church.
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Jerry Seinfeld never officially joined the church, but has attributed his success partly to some Scientology courses he took in his 20s.
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Brad Pitt took a few courses -- and was a high-level target for the church -- while dating Scientologist Juliette Lewis, but lost interest after the relationship ended.
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Candice Bergen was briefly involved with the church in the 1960s before its financial rise.
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"Transparent" actor Jeffery Tambor took Scientology classes and studied the religion for a short time, but no longer participates with the organization.
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Patrick Swayze tried out Scientology while practicing many world faiths, including Buddhism and transcendental meditation.
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Russell Crowe read L. Ron Hubbard's book"Dianetics" and watched a few videos before deciding the church wasn't for him.
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Sonny Bono flirted with Scientology while married to Cher, who herself never understood its appeal.
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"Top Gun" Producer Don Simpson spent more than $25,000 dollars on Scientology before leaving without the life improvement he was hoping to achieve.
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These notable figures attended the church, but ultimately decided they couldn’t stay
Leah Remini left in 2013, citing her frustration with not being able to challenge the church's beliefs and before her daughter was of age to begin "the acclimation into the church."