Leah Remini vs Tom Cruise and Scientology - the story so far
All the rumours about celebs and Scientology in one place
Tom Cruise has often be portrayed as an eccentric and the new rumours, started by actress Leah Remini, haven’t helped the situation.
Maybe you’re wondering what the scientology drama is, or who Leah Remini is? We’ve been looking at the story so far but be warned – it’s a little weird.
What is scientology? A secretive religion set up by American sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard, it encourages people to learn about themselves and look for spiritual fulfilment through training courses.
Who’s Leah Remini? Leah Remini, actress in the TV show, ‘Kings and Queens’ spent 30 years with the church before leaving in 2013. She says she wanted to leave so her daughter wouldn’t be totally dependent on the religion like she’d been. Deciding to tell the ‘truth’ about it, she wrote a tell-all book called ‘Troublemaker : Surviving Hollywood and Scientology’.
What are the rumours? After making a $1 million donation to the church she was apparently allowed into Tom Cruise’s inner circle. She recalled going to the actor’s house with Jada Pinkett-Smith (Will Smith’s wife) and all the Mission Impossible star wanted to do ... was play hide-and-seek. When she said she was wearing heels, he apparently tagged her and said she was 'it'.
Katie Holmes is reported to have made Tom Cruise wait at the altar for 20 minutes, which made Leah so uncomfortable she wondered if the wedding would even go ahead.
She found Tom’s daughter Suri Cruise crying on the floor at the wedding of Katie Holmes to Tom Cruise, but the adults just stood around and stared at the wailing child. Apparently Scientology teaches people to let the child cry until they stop as a way of communication.
Tom Cruise doesn’t like chipped mugs. She says she saw him have a meltdown after being handed it, saying only DB’s (scientology speak for ‘degraded beings’) drink out of chipped mugs. He also doesn’t like pre-packaged cookie dough apparently shouting at his assistant to “get in the present time”.
Remini says her and her husband were invited for salsa lessons at Tom Cruise’s home but it turned out just to be a reward after Leah donated $1million to the church.
She felt nervous around Tom Cruise, who's high up in the heirarchy of the church. She said she was suspicious that if she got tipsy he'd tell on her and punishments often included paying a lot of money.
She also adds that when someone leaves the religion and then bad-mouths it, they're given a black mark by the church and can even encourage your friends and family to dissociate from you.
What did the Church of Scientology say to this?The church replied to her claims reportedly saying that she didn't leave, they kicked her out:
"Sadly, bitterness and anger are common threads through Ms. Remini’s life. Rather than take responsibility for self-inflicted problems, she is quick to blame others."
"Her repeated ethical lapses and callous treatment of others led to an ecclesiastical review which resulted in her being expelled. She now regurgitates the tired myths the Church has repeatedly debunked, circulated by the same tiny clique of expelled former staffers bitter at having lost the positions they enjoyed before their malfeasance and unethical conduct were uncovered."
Who else is in the church? There are many famous faces in the Church of Scientology, which apparently offers a 'rehab' to celebs reaching their prime or offering rewards to famous people who recruit other famous people.
Celebrity Scientolgists include ‘Cheers’ star Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, ‘My Name Is Earl’ actor Jason Lee, ‘Mad Men’ star Elisabeth Moss and Nancy Cartwright, who’s the voice of Bart Simpson.