Leah Remini still adjusting to life after Scientology
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It’s been nearly two years since Leah Remini left the Church of Scientology, but the actress says she’s still adjusting to life without the controversial religion.
“Our decision to leave the organization — it’s not just something you get over,” the 44-year-old former “King of Queens” star revealed on Oprah Winfrey’s “Where Are They Now?”
“It’s people and a lifestyle you’ve known all your life,” she added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Remini practiced Scientology for more than 30 years and was brought into the religion by her mom.
“It formed who I am, good and bad,” said Jennifer Lopez’s best friend. “It formed the way I think, good and bad. And so there’s a lot of pain connected to it, there’s a lot of healing.”
Her decision to part ways with Scientology, which also counts Tom Cruise and John Travolta as prominent members, came one busy afternoon while watching her daughter swim.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I was at one of these hotels in Florida, and I saw my daughter swimming for the first time while I’m reading this thing,” she recalled. “And a tear came down my face. And I was like, ‘What am I doing?’”
Remini, who says she was busy with church commitments seven days a week, came to the realization that she was effectively passing along the same message that her mother had taught her — that Scientology is “more important” than family.
Remini’s segment on the show didn’t sit well with the church, which fired back with a statement (via Us Weekly).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Given Leah Remini’s insatiable desire for attention, it comes as no surprise that for two years she has been incapable of moving on with her life and remains obsessed with shamelessly exploiting her former religion in a pathetic attempt to get publicity,” it read.