Leah Remini sues Church of Scientology and leader David Miscavige for alleged ‘psychological torture’ and harassment
Actress Leah Remini is suing the Church of Scientology over allegations she has suffered “psychological torture”, threats and harassment for several years.
The star, who rose to fame in shows such as Saved By The Bell and is best known for The King Of Queens series, is a former member of the church who joined as a child, but has since become one of its most prominent public opponents.
The 53-year-old claims she has been the victim of “intentional malicious and fraudulent rumours via hundreds of Scientology-controlled and co-ordinated social media accounts that exist solely to intimidate and spread misinformation”, according to a lawsuit filed at Los Angeles Superior Court, reported by Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.
Remini, who left the movement in 2013, co-created and hosted an anti-Scientology documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath, which aired from 2016 to 2019 and won two Emmy awards.
She is suing the church and leader David Miscavige, saying she does not believe she is the religion’s first alleged victim, “but I intend to be the last”.
“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 star said in a statement.
The Church of Scientology in Los Angeles. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
Sky News’ US partner network NBC News has contacted the church and a representative for Miscavige, but they have not immediately responded to a request for comment.
Remini claims in her lawsuit that Miscavige and other defendants began attacks on her more than 10 years ago.
She alleges that current and former Scientologists were enlisted to record defamatory video statements against her – including that she “was abusive to her mother and daughter, and that she is a racist”, the lawsuit says.
‘Final objective of silencing me has not been achieved’
Scientology leader David Miscavige pictured at the opening ceremony of a Church of Scientology building in London in 2006
Remini said she feared for her safety and was forced to hire bodyguards for the first time in 2015, after learning private investigators allegedly working for the church were following her during the promotion of her book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood, in New York.
In 2018, the church organised a meeting with celebrity Scientologists and drilled attendees on “how to attack Ms Remini’s credibility, based on lies, using talking points that Scientology wrote”, according to the star’s lawsuit.
Remini has also accused the church of enlisting a man with “a history of mental illness and a violent criminal record” to watch her at her home in Los Angeles in 2020, the lawsuit claims. It also says her family and friends have been subjected to the harassment.
She is seeking damages “for the enormous economic and psychological harm” that the church’s alleged attacks have caused, and says she hopes to deter the church from “continuing their unlawful campaign of harassment and intimidation”.
“While advocating for victims of Scientology has significantly impacted my life and career, Scientology’s final objective of silencing me has not been achieved,” the actress said.
Entertainment
Rust weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez appeals against conviction over fatal shooting on Alec Baldwin film set
The weapons supervisor for the Western film Rust is appealing against her conviction for involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on set, according to court documents.
Hannah Gutierrez was jailed in April after being found guilty by jurors following a trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the US.
She was in charge of weapons during the production of the film in October 2021, when a Colt 45 revolver fired by actor and co-producer Alec Baldwin went off during a rehearsal.
Alec Baldwin, pictured on the Rust set, faces a separate trial
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died, while director Joel Souza was injured.
A defence lawyer for Gutierrez, who is serving an 18-month sentence at a prison for women in New Mexico, filed a shortly worded appeal notice on Monday.
Her legal team has 30 days to submit detailed arguments. They previously requested a new trial following the verdict.
Hannah Gutierrez, pictured during her trial, is appealing against her conviction
Gutierrez’s trial was told she unwittingly brought live ammunition to the set, where it was expressly prohibited, and failed to follow basic gun safety protocols.
During her sentencing hearing, she told the court she had tried to do her best while working on the production, despite not having “proper time, resources and staffing”.
Read more:
What the conviction means for Alec Baldwin
Prosecutors say Baldwin had ‘no control’ of emotions on set
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died after the gun went off. Pic: Shutterstock
Alec Baldwin case latest
Baldwin, who was a producer for the film as well as its star, has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
He maintains he pulled back the gun’s hammer – but not the trigger – before it fired, and is set to face trial in July. He denies any wrongdoing.
The 66-year-old was originally charged in January 2023, more than a year after the shooting, but those charges were dropped a few months later. He was charged again in January this year.
His legal team has filed a motion calling for the charges to be dropped. Prosecutors responded with a 32-page document claiming that footage of the star on set shows he had “absolutely no control of his own emotions” and “no concern for how his conduct” affected those around him.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Assistant director David Halls, who also faced charges, entered a plea bargain for negligent use of a deadly weapon last year, receiving a six-month suspended sentence.
Filming of Rust resumed last year in Montana – with Baldwin reprising his role as the main character – after an agreement made Ms Hutchins’s widower an executive producer.
Gudrun Ure, the star of hit 1980s children’s TV show Super Gran, has died aged 98.
Ure’s portrayal of Granny Smith – who gained superpowers after being struck by a magic ray – won her legions of fans across the globe.
Her death was confirmed by her niece, Kate McNeill.
Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Ure was born in Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire, on 12 March 1926.
As an actress she starred as Desdemona in a 1951 stage production of Othello, directed by Hollywood legend Orson Welles. She also re-dubbed Suzanne Cloutier’s performance in Welles’ film adaptation.
Ure appeared in other television shows, including Casualty, Midsomer Murders, The Crow Road, The 10th Kingdom, and T-Bag and the Pearls of Wisdom.
However, it was her role in Super Gran that elevated her to cult status.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The show, based on a series of books written by Forrest Wilson, saw Ure’s character use her powers to protect the residents of Chiselton from a series of villains, including the scheming Roderick ‘Scunner’ Campbell and his gang.
Many guest stars appeared on the programme, including George Best, Spike Milligan, Eric Bristow, Roy Kinnear and comedian Billy Connolly, who also sang the theme song.
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The ITV series ran from 1985 to 1987 and was sold to more than 60 countries worldwide.
It also won a prestigious International Emmy Award in the children and young people category.
Entertainment
Legally Blonde prequel announced by Reese Witherspoon – following Elle Woods in the ’90s
If you know the first cardinal rule of perm maintenance and the importance of a scented resumé, you’re going to be excited about Reese Witherspoon’s latest news.
The Hollywood star has announced a prequel series to her hit 2001 film, Legally Blonde, which will premiere in 2025.
Wearing a hot pink suit and pale pink stilettos (because whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed), Witherspoon shared details on her social media channels.
The TV series will follow her character, Elle Woods, as a schoolgirl in the 1990s, before the events of Legally Blonde and its 2003 sequel.
In a video shared on Instagram, Witherspoon can be seen getting dressed and applying pink lipstick before brandishing a “top secret” scented script ahead of an Amazon Prime Video presentation to advertisers – soundtracked by Perfect Day, one of the songs from the film.
“Before she became the most famous Gemini vegetarian to graduate from Harvard Law, she was just a regular ’90s high school girl,” Witherspoon wrote. “And all of you are going to get to know her, next year on @primevideo. I’M SO EXCITED!”
Witherspoon will serve as an executive producer on the Prime Video series, which will be called Elle.
Read more:
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Reese Witherspoon at the Golden Globes in January this year. Pic: Reuters
Legally Blonde followed sorority girl Elle Woods as she surprised friends, family and teachers by gaining admittance to Harvard Law School – in pursuit of a boyfriend who had broken up with her.
But during her studies, she showed she had the makings of a highly capable – and murder-trial-winning – lawyer.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Elle will be produced by Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company, which is now a part of Candle Media, and was previously responsible for shows including Daisy Jones And The Six.
Details of casting are yet to be released.
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