Leah Remini, the Kings of Queens actor who joined the Church of Scientology as a child in 1979 and left in 2013, has filed a lawsuit against the group and its leader David Miscavige.
She is suing for defamation, surveillance and harassment – among other allegations of unlawful behaviour – which she claims resulted in “psychological torture”.
“For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment and intimidation, significantly impacting my life and career,” the 53-year-old star claimed in a press release issued overnight alongside the legal filing.
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“I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last,” Remini claimed.
Remini, who filed the 60-page lawsuit in California’s superior court, claims the Church of Scientology’s alleged “mob-style operations and attacks” have “significantly” affected her career and life in general.
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She said her reason for filing is an attempt to ”require Scientology, and any entity it controls and funds, to cease and desist its alleged practice of harassment, defamation and other unlawful conduct against anyone who Scientology has labelled as an ‘enemy'”.
In the lawsuit, Remini alleges the group orchestrated “coordinated and malicious assaults” after she departed in 2013, which she claims included public allegations she was abusive towards her daughter and her mother, as well as public claims she made racist statements.
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Remini is seeking punitive and compensatory damages for alleged harm she claims the Church of Scientology and its leadership inflicted on her “life and livelihood”.
”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 said in her statement.
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.”
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