Leah Remini has broken her silence regarding her defection from Scientology, issuing her most direct words to date about her decision to leave the church.
Remini and her entire family left Scientology after a bizarre series of events that allegedly include A-list stars writing “knowledge reports” about her.
Leah’s questions about the whereabouts of church head David Miscavige’s wife Shelly, reportedly created controversy among Scientology’s hierarchy.
“We stand united, my family and I, and I think that says a lot about who we are, and what we’re about,” Remini told People magazine on Saturday.
Shelly Miscaviage has been seen in public once in the past five-plus years, and Leah reportedly questioned why she was not seen or in contact with anybody.
That started a chain of events that appeared to be retaliation against Remini. But on Saturday, Leah let everyone know that the church was not going to silence her.
She did not offer specifics, but said this:
“I believe that people should be able to question things. I believe that people should value family, and value friendships, and hold those things sacrosanct.
“That for me, that’s what I’m about."
"It wouldn’t matter what it was, simply because no one is going to tell me how I need to think, no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to."
"It doesn’t matter, it could be anything.”
Numerous Scientology members have said that the church encourages members to break contact with people who leave the controversial faith.
“I thought about the family being broken up for some other cause, and I’m not about to shut up,” Remini said in her most direct statement yet.
Her sister Nicole has said both Kristie Alley and Katie Holmes wrote “knowledge reports” about Leah’s activities, though Alley denied any involvement.