From Celebrity Scientologist to Outspoken Critic: Leah Remini's Journey of Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
If you are looking for a candid, compelling, and courageous memoir that exposes the dark side of one of the most controversial religions in the world, then you should read Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini. In this book, the former King of Queens star reveals how she spent more than three decades as a devout member of the Church of Scientology, only to break free from its grip after realizing its harmful effects on her life and career. She also shares her personal stories, insights, and opinions on some of the most famous Scientologists, including Tom Cruise, David Miscavige, and John Travolta.
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
Leah Remini is an American actress, producer, author, and comedian who is best known for her roles in sitcoms like The King of Queens, The Talk, and Kevin Can Wait. She is also an outspoken critic of Scientology, having left the church in 2013 after being a member since childhood. She wrote Troublemaker as a way to tell her side of the story, to expose the truth about Scientology's practices and policies, and to inspire others to stand up for themselves and their beliefs. She also created and hosted a documentary series called Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which won an Emmy Award in 2017.
Troublemaker is a book that explores themes such as identity, faith, family, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, courage, honesty, freedom, and justice. It is a book that shows how one woman overcame the fear, guilt, and pressure that kept her trapped in a cult-like organization for so long. It is a book that celebrates the power of speaking your mind, standing your ground, and rattling the occasional cage. It is a book that will make you laugh, cry, gasp, and cheer as you follow Leah Remini's journey from being a troublemaker in Hollywood to being a troublemaker for Scientology.
Leah Remini's early life and introduction to Scientology
Leah Remini was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1970 to a Sicilian father and a Jewish mother. She had a tough childhood marked by poverty, divorce, abuse, and instability. She moved around a lot with her mother and sister, living in different apartments, motels, and even a car. She was always a rebellious, outspoken, and ambitious kid who dreamed of becoming an actress.
When she was nine years old, her mother joined the Church of Scientology and brought Leah and her sister along with her. Scientology is a religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s that claims to offer a path to spiritual enlightenment and happiness through a series of courses, audits, and levels. Leah was initially attracted to Scientology because it promised to help her overcome her insecurities, fears, and problems. She also liked the sense of community and belonging that it provided.
However, being a Scientologist was not easy or cheap. Leah had to undergo hours of auditing, which is a form of counseling that involves answering personal questions while holding two metal cans connected to a device called an E-meter. She also had to take courses that taught her the doctrines and ethics of Scientology, which often contradicted with her own common sense and values. She had to follow strict rules and regulations that controlled every aspect of her life, from what she could eat, wear, read, watch, listen to, and say. She had to donate money and time to the church and its causes, even if it meant sacrificing her own needs and interests.
When she was 13 years old, she moved with her mother and sister to Clearwater, Florida, where they joined the Sea Org, which is the elite and secretive branch of Scientology that runs its operations and services. The Sea Org members live in communal barracks, work long hours for little or no pay, sign billion-year contracts, and dedicate their lives to serving Scientology. Leah hated being in the Sea Org because she felt like a prisoner who had no freedom, privacy, or dignity. She witnessed and experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation, and manipulation by the Sea Org staff and leaders. She also missed out on a normal education and social life as a teenager.
She managed to escape from the Sea Org when she was 16 years old by pretending to have suicidal thoughts. She then moved to Los Angeles with her boyfriend, who later became her husband. She pursued her acting career while still remaining loyal to Scientology. She believed that Scientology was the only way to achieve happiness and success in life.
Leah Remini's rise to fame and Scientology's influence
Leah Remini's acting career took off in the 1990s when she landed roles in sitcoms like Living Dolls, Saved by the Bell, Phenom, Fired Up, and The King of Queens. She became a popular and respected actress who earned millions of dollars and fans. She also became one of Scientology's top celebrities who promoted the church and its programs to the public and the media.
Being a famous Scientologist had its perks and pitfalls. On one hand, Leah enjoyed the admiration and attention of the church and its leaders. She was invited to exclusive events, parties, fundraisers, and ceremonies where she mingled with other celebrity Scientologists like John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Jenna Elfman, Giovanni Ribisi, Juliette Lewis, Danny Masterson, Beck, Elisabeth Moss, Nancy Cartwright, Erika Christensen, Jason Lee, Laura Prepon, Michael Peña, and Tom Cruise.
On the other hand, Leah faced the pressure and scrutiny of the church and its followers. She was expected to uphold the image and reputation of Scientology at all times. She was monitored and evaluated by the church staff who kept tabs on her behavior, activities, relationships, finances, and progress in Scientology. She was constantly urged to donate more money and time to the church and its causes. She was also required to recruit new members into Scientology or convince existing members to stay in.
One of the most influential and controversial figures in Leah's life as a Scientologist was Tom Cruise. Cruise is one of the most famous actors in the world and one of the most devoted Scientologists. He is also very close to David Miscavige, who is the leader of Scientology since Hubbard's death in 1986. Miscavige is known for being charismatic but also ruthless, paranoid, and violent.
Leah met Cruise several times throughout her career but became more involved with him in 2006 when he married Katie Holmes. Leah was invited to their lavish wedding in Italy where she witnessed some strange and disturbing incidents involving Cruise, Miscavige, and other Scientologists. She also noticed that Miscavige's wife Shelly was missing from the event and no one seemed to know or care where she was.
Leah became friends with Cruise and Holmes and even attended their wedding in Italy in 2006. However, she also witnessed some bizarre and disturbing incidents involving Cruise, Miscavige, and other Scientologists at the event. She also noticed that Miscavige's wife Shelly was missing from the event and no one seemed to know or care where she was. She later learned that Shelly had been allegedly banished by Miscavige to a secret location and had not been seen in public since 2007. Leah became friends with Cruise and Holmes and even helped them with their salsa dancing skills. She also tried to recruit Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, who were her close friends, into Scientology. She claims that Cruise and Holmes invited Lopez and Anthony to their wedding as a way to induct them into the church. However, Lopez and Anthony did not join Scientology and remained friends with Leah after she left. Leah also experienced some awkward and uncomfortable moments with Cruise, such as when he asked her to play hide-and-seek with him and other celebrities at his home, when he scolded her for opening a package of cookies at his house, when he berated his assistant for bringing him prepackaged cookie dough instead of homemade, when he jumped on Oprah's couch to declare his love for Holmes, and when he criticized Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants for her postpartum depression. Leah began to see Cruise as a spoiled, arrogant, and manipulative person who was obsessed with Scientology and Miscavige. She also realized that being critical of Cruise was being critical of Scientology itself, which could get her in trouble with the church and its followers. Leah Remini's doubts and departure from Scientology
Leah Remini's doubts and departure from Scientology began when she attended Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding in 2006. She was appalled by the way Scientology treated its guests, staff, and members at the event. She was also curious about the whereabouts of Shelly Miscavige, who had not been seen in public for years. She decided to file a missing person report on Shelly with the Los Angeles Police Department in 2013, which sparked a media frenzy and a backlash from the church.
Leah also started to question some of Scientology's practices and policies, such as the disconnection policy that required members to cut off all contact with anyone who was deemed a suppressive person or an enemy of the church. She realized that she had lost many friends and family members who had left or been expelled from Scientology over the years. She also learned about the abuse, violence, intimidation, extortion, and fraud that occurred within the church and its leadership.
Leah decided to leave Scientology in 2013 after being subjected to years of auditing, interrogations, punishments, threats, harassment, and blackmail by the church and its followers. She was labeled a suppressive person and an apostate by the church and its leader David Miscavige. She was also shunned by many of her former friends and colleagues who were still in Scientology.
Leah faced many challenges and difficulties after leaving Scientology. She had to rebuild her life, career, identity, and relationships without the support of the church. She also had to deal with the trauma, guilt, anger, and grief that resulted from her involvement in Scientology. She sought therapy, counseling, education, and legal help to cope with her situation.
Leah also decided to speak out publicly about her experiences in Scientology and expose its secrets and scandals. She wrote Troublemaker as a way to tell her story, to help others who were in or out of Scientology, and to hold the church accountable for its actions. She also created and hosted a documentary series called Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, Conclusion
Leah Remini's memoir Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology is a powerful and eye-opening book that reveals the truth about one of the most secretive and controversial religions in the world. It is also a personal and inspiring story of a woman who dared to question, challenge, and leave an organization that controlled every aspect of her life for more than 30 years.
Leah Remini shares her experiences, insights, and opinions on Scientology and its celebrities, leaders, practices, and policies. She exposes the abuse, corruption, deception, and manipulation that she witnessed and endured as a member of the church. She also shows the courage, honesty, resilience, and humor that helped her overcome the fear, guilt, pressure, and harassment that she faced after leaving the church.
Leah Remini's book is not only a fascinating and entertaining read, but also an important and informative one. It sheds light on information that makes the world aware of what is really going on in Scientology and encourages others to speak up and seek help. It also offers hope and support to those who have left or are thinking of leaving Scientology. It shows that there is life after Scientology and that it is possible to find happiness and freedom outside of the church.
FAQs
Is Troublemaker a true story?Yes, Troublemaker is a true story based on Leah Remini's personal experiences as a Scientologist and an ex-Scientologist. She wrote the book with the help of Rebecca Paley, a journalist and co-author of several bestselling memoirs.
How did Scientology react to Troublemaker?Scientology reacted to Troublemaker with hostility and criticism. The church issued several statements attacking Leah Remini and her book, calling her a liar, a traitor, a bigot, a hypocrite, and a has-been actress. The church also created several websites to discredit Leah Remini and her interviewees, accusing them of being bitter defectors, criminals, liars, and haters.
What is Leah Remini's relationship with Jennifer Lopez?Leah Remini and Jennifer Lopez are best friends who met in 2004 at a movie premiere. They bonded over their shared backgrounds as New Yorkers, Latinas, mothers, and entertainers. They have supported each other through their personal and professional ups and downs. They have also appeared together in movies like Second Act (2018) and TV shows like Leah Remini: It's All Relative (2014-2015).
What is Leah Remini's net worth?According to Celebrity Net Worth, Leah Remini's net worth is estimated to be around $25 million as of 2021. She earned most of her wealth from her acting career in TV shows like The King of Queens (1998-2007), The Talk (2010-2011), Kevin Can Wait (2016-2018), and movies like Old School (2003) and Second Act (2018). She also earned money from her book sales, documentary series, podcast, and endorsements.
Where can I watch Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath?You can watch Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath on A&E's website or app if you have a cable or satellite subscription. You can also stream it on Hulu or Netflix if you have a subscription to those services. You can also buy or rent individual episodes or seasons on Amazon Prime Video or iTunes.
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