Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

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Famous actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini turns whistleblower on “The Church”.

And a lot of people are listening.

Leah’s fame from “The King of Queens” TV show gives her perhaps the biggest platform of any Scientology critic to date.

I rank “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” #1 on my Best Scientology Documentaries (I’ve ranked 14 so far!).

I also rank the docuseries #2 on my list of Best Cult Documentaries (33 of them!).

Trailer for Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

Where to Watch “Leah Remini Scientology and the Aftermath”

You can watch some episodes of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath online for free here in these links (all of Daily Motion ones have ads):

You can rent or buy the full “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” series online here:

There are also DVDs available on Amazon (for $32) such as here last I checked: https://www.amazon.com/Leah-Remini-Scientology-Aftermath-Australia/dp/B079JGKQCM (I don’t see Blu-Ray though)

There might also be Leah Remini episodes on Putlocker and Vodlocker but I hear that their videos might be without permission so I’m not including it here.

Ratings (mine, IMDB, RT)

  • My Rating: 98/100
  • IMDB Rating: 8.4
  • Rotten Tomatoes: 94/100 (users); na (critics)

Review of Leah Remini Scientology and the Aftermath

In the world of Scientology docs, Leah Remini’s series is the #1 exposé.

It’s just on another level. Why? Leah herself.

You remember Leah from “The King of Queens”, right?

Turns out, she’s not just funny on TV; the former Scientologist also has a knack for storytelling, especially when she’s part of the tale.

Picture this: Baby Leah’s family packs up everything to head to Scientology’s glitzy hub in Clearwater, Florida (her stepdad is a no-sho).

So, it’s just Leah, her sister, and mom, forming their new squad, courtesy of “The Church.”

Fast forward, Leah’s all grown up and says ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ to Scientology. Leah and her family walk away.

Note: Leah’s sister, Nicole Remini, confirmed that the entire Remini family is out of Scientology, according to Leah Remini’s Sister: Our Whole Family Is Out of Scientology (InTouch Weekly).

But Leah keeps her Rolodex of ex-Scientologist pals handy.

Now, get ready for some drama.

You’ll see a bunch of celebrities discussed in “Scientology and the Aftermath”, including:

Danny Masterson (“That ’70s Show,”)

In the series finale, Leah sits down with two of Masterson’s rape accusers: Chrissie Bixler and Bobette Riales.

They were both ex-girlfriends of Masterson who shared their traumatic experiences and the subsequent handling of their cases by the Church of Scientology.

Bixler, who dated Masterson for six years, recounts an incident where she felt she had been drugged and raped by Masterson.

When she reports the incident to a Scientology ethics officer, she was told it couldn’t be rape because they were in a relationship and was threatened with punishment if she went to the authorities.

These women spoke out publicly for the first time in an in-depth interview about their experiences with the actor and their lives within the Church of Scientology.

Kirstie Alley

Mentioned as one of the celebrities who were recruited into Scientology during the time discussed in the series.

The doc covers her public disagreements with Leah Remini, especially after Remini left Scientology and became an outspoken critic.

Tom Cruise

Perhaps the most famously associated celebrity with Scientology, Cruise’s recruitment by Mimi Rogers and his significant influence within the Church are discussed.

The series also touches on how the Church caters to A-list stars like Cruise.

Paul Haggis

Haggis is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker and a former member of the Church of Scientology.

He was a high-profile defection and cites disturbing practices and policies. His departure shakes the community.

He joins Leah Remini and her partner Mike Rinder in the series to discuss the Church’s obsession with fame and its efforts to recruit celebrities.

Kevin James

Although not a Scientologist, Remini mentions being asked why she hadn’t recruited her “King of Queens” co-star into the Church, illustrating the pressure on celebrity Scientologists to promote the organization and recruit others

Some other factoids and my notes

If I really like a doc or docuseries, I usually jot down notes. Here they are below (they didn’t fit into the general review above):

  • David Miscavige, the Scientology head honcho, whose wife Shelly is like a character in a mystery novel – there, but not there. He name-drops her in speeches while she’s MIA.
  • Scientology, apparently having more cash than sense, reportedly drops a cool $12 million tailing their former exec, Pat Broeker, for a mind-boggling 24 years.
  • One guy quits Scientology and asks for his money back. They told him to check his mailbox in the after-life. Talk about customer service!
  • One Scientologist aide goes full James Bond, hiding in a car trunk to make a break from headquarters.
  • The Hole: Allegations surface about a punitive compound in California. Ex-members claim it’s a re-education camp with harsh conditions.
  • Fair Game Policy: The series delves into Scientology’s alleged practice of aggressively targeting and discrediting critics, termed “Fair Game” by L. Ron Hubbard.
  • The Celebrity Centre: Insights into Scientology’s special treatment of celebrities. It’s a world of privileges and influence, far removed from the experiences of regular members. This might explain what attracts/retains John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Danny Masterson and other stars.
  • Disconnection Heartbreaks: Families torn apart by the church’s disconnection policy. Personal stories of parents and children, separated due to conflicting beliefs, are especially gut-wrenching.
  • Sea Org Hardships: Former Sea Org members describe grueling work conditions, strict discipline, and limited contact with the outside world.
  • Financial Exploitation: Stories emerge of members pressured into donating large sums, taking on debt, and financially crippling themselves for the church.
  • The Freewinds: Expose on the church’s cruise ship, where high-level courses are taught. Allegations include asbestos exposure and questionable labor practices.
  • Shelly Miscavige’s Disappearance: Questions swirl around the mysterious absence of David Miscavige’s wife, Shelly, sparking public concern and speculation.
  • Auditing Sessions: Accounts of auditing sessions being used for gathering sensitive personal information, which some claim is later used for control and leverage.

Thanks for reading!

Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc

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