CNN —The actress Leah Remini has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, claiming she has suffered years of harassment, intimidation and defamation as part of an organized campaign of retaliation for her criticism of the church since leaving it a decade ago.
After leaving the church in 2013, though, the actress became a fierce and high-profile critic: She published a memoir in 2015, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology,” and went on to host three seasons of the docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” on A&E.
“Leah Remini has become what she once vowed she would never be: ‘This bitter ex-Scientologist,’” the church said in a 2016 statement in response to the series.
People walk past the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles in 2012.
The church allegedly paid social media companies to promote the posts targeting Remini, the lawsuit says, adding Scientology’s “old-school, mob-style tactics” extend beyond social media.
Persons:
Leah Remini, David Miscavige, –, ” Remini, “, Kevin James, Queens, ”, “ Leah Remini, Remini’s, Lawrence Wright, Remini, ’, Mario Anzuoni, Remini “, Ms
Organizations:
CNN, of Scientology, Superior Court, Scientology, CBS, Hollywood, HBO, Warner Bros . Discovery, Religious Technology, Remini
Locations:
Los Angeles, New York