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Leah Remini

@LeahRemini808,731 subscribers

Mom | Amazing Ex-Wife to Angelo | Actress & Producer Author | Advocate | Intolerant of Bullies, Bull**** & Injustice

Shorts

Can you believe this guy? The audacity…right in front of me! Thank you for 27 years of King of Queens! We are so grateful for all the love!

Can you believe this guy? The audacity…right in front of me! Thank you for 27 years of King of Queens! We are so grateful for all the love!

8,020,808 views

I graduated!!! I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Psychology, summa cum laude! Five years ago, I started this journey with an eighth-grade education, and even that was from a Scientology school, where critical thinking was discouraged and the quality of instruction was subpar, to say the least. I did not get here alone. Thank you to NYU School of Professional Studies and Angie Kamath. Thank you to everyone who supported me, encouraged me, and believed in me, especially on the days I was not sure I could do this. And there were plenty of those days. To my therapist, who told me not to give up when I was told I likely would not be accepted into a prestigious program. To my tutor, without whom I likely would have given up at the harder points along the way. To all those here who have sent me loving messages on social media. And to everyone else who has cheered me on in person through the ups and the downs of it, it means more than I can put into words. It got me over this finish line of being a student again and graduating. That goal once seemed impossible. To those who have asked me, “Why this? Why now?” I pursued higher education to reclaim a piece of myself. When you come out of a high-control group like Scientology, or even a high-control family, there are parts of you that were never allowed to fully develop. Those parts include your curiosity and your ability and right to question. Education was discouraged because knowledge creates confidence in your ability to trust your own mind and navigate the world. That leads to true independence, and that would never be allowed. I wanted that back. But more than that, I needed to understand. I needed to understand how my mother could have us join Scientology when I was just eight years old, and how my family and I could be part of something like this and stay in it for so long. I needed to understand how these systems work, how they influence people, and how they take hold. Without education, access to real information, and support, people can fall into systems that work against their best interests. Some assume that because they are educated, even highly educated, they would never fall for something like this. But it turns out that is not necessarily true. What many of us are impacted by, but never quite understand, is how high-control groups operate. Many still do not understand how misinformation spreads, and how tribalism and radicalization shape what we think, what we believe, and who and what we trust. Without that awareness, none of us are immune. Today, we are seeing how these forces can influence good people and distort reality. History has shown us that this is not new; it just comes in a different form now. Social media connects us in ways we never imagined, but it also creates echo chambers that reinforce beliefs and justify behavior without question. Real critical thinking is hard when we are fed so much by algorithms designed to appeal to us. In learning and achieving this milestone in my own life, it has helped me take a good, hard look at my own beliefs and ideologies. This journey was about healing for me, but also about figuring out how to help others in whatever way I can in the future. So what is in my future? I am considering continuing my education and possibly pursuing a master’s degree, with the goal of contributing to advocacy and policies that protect people, not systems. For now, I am taking this moment in. I am proud of myself. And I am grateful. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

I graduated!!! I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Psychology, summa cum laude! Five years ago, I started this journey with an eighth-grade education, and even that was from a Scientology school, where critical thinking was discouraged and the quality of instruction was subpar, to say the least. I did not get here alone. Thank you to NYU School of Professional Studies and Angie Kamath. Thank you to everyone who supported me, encouraged me, and believed in me, especially on the days I was not sure I could do this. And there were plenty of those days. To my therapist, who told me not to give up when I was told I likely would not be accepted into a prestigious program. To my tutor, without whom I likely would have given up at the harder points along the way. To all those here who have sent me loving messages on social media. And to everyone else who has cheered me on in person through the ups and the downs of it, it means more than I can put into words. It got me over this finish line of being a student again and graduating. That goal once seemed impossible. To those who have asked me, “Why this? Why now?” I pursued higher education to reclaim a piece of myself. When you come out of a high-control group like Scientology, or even a high-control family, there are parts of you that were never allowed to fully develop. Those parts include your curiosity and your ability and right to question. Education was discouraged because knowledge creates confidence in your ability to trust your own mind and navigate the world. That leads to true independence, and that would never be allowed. I wanted that back. But more than that, I needed to understand. I needed to understand how my mother could have us join Scientology when I was just eight years old, and how my family and I could be part of something like this and stay in it for so long. I needed to understand how these systems work, how they influence people, and how they take hold. Without education, access to real information, and support, people can fall into systems that work against their best interests. Some assume that because they are educated, even highly educated, they would never fall for something like this. But it turns out that is not necessarily true. What many of us are impacted by, but never quite understand, is how high-control groups operate. Many still do not understand how misinformation spreads, and how tribalism and radicalization shape what we think, what we believe, and who and what we trust. Without that awareness, none of us are immune. Today, we are seeing how these forces can influence good people and distort reality. History has shown us that this is not new; it just comes in a different form now. Social media connects us in ways we never imagined, but it also creates echo chambers that reinforce beliefs and justify behavior without question. Real critical thinking is hard when we are fed so much by algorithms designed to appeal to us. In learning and achieving this milestone in my own life, it has helped me take a good, hard look at my own beliefs and ideologies. This journey was about healing for me, but also about figuring out how to help others in whatever way I can in the future. So what is in my future? I am considering continuing my education and possibly pursuing a master’s degree, with the goal of contributing to advocacy and policies that protect people, not systems. For now, I am taking this moment in. I am proud of myself. And I am grateful. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

743,613 views

What’s my name?! Say it!

What’s my name?! Say it!

2,190,661 views

It’s January 5 and my Christmas trees are still up. I am not ashamed…I am very proud.

It’s January 5 and my Christmas trees are still up. I am not ashamed…I am very proud.

1,072,367 views

I’ve posted hidden camera footage from inside a secret Scientology meeting where Sea Org members learn how to extract money from Scientologists who don’t have it to give. Sick. Watch Here:

I’ve posted hidden camera footage from inside a secret Scientology meeting where Sea Org members learn how to extract money from Scientologists who don’t have it to give. Sick. Watch Here:

470,138 views

This is what my husband and I text to our daughter when she doesn’t text us back. When you got kids in college!

This is what my husband and I text to our daughter when she doesn’t text us back. When you got kids in college!

536,309 views

I’ve never had someone get a tattoo like this of Kevin Jerry, and me! I am truly honored and touched! Thank you to Sissy Ink on IG. Kevin James Ben Stiller

I’ve never had someone get a tattoo like this of Kevin Jerry, and me! I am truly honored and touched! Thank you to Sissy Ink on IG. Kevin James Ben Stiller

205,758 views

You will always be our precious little angel, Sofia. Thank you for being our constant joy. Happy National Daughters day!

You will always be our precious little angel, Sofia. Thank you for being our constant joy. Happy National Daughters day!

68,620 views

Why didn’t anyone tell me these exist?!

Why didn’t anyone tell me these exist?!

118,413 views

Getting ready while my sisters hang out with me!

Getting ready while my sisters hang out with me!

80,908 views

Candy shop, closed!

Candy shop, closed!

32,742 views

Videos

LeahRemini's profile picture

I wanted to weigh in on this recent trend of people running into Scientology buildings, causing chaos, and posting the videos on social media. Whether these people are doing it for social media clout or to genuinely expose the abuses of Scientology, what they are doing is unhelpful, and by engaging in these actions, they are unwittingly helping Scientology. I want as many people as possible talking about the dangers and criminality of Scientology. But I spent decades on the other side of this, and if I had been confronted by people running through Scientology buildings and harassing me or staff, it would have pushed me further into Scientology. That is because Scientologists are deeply indoctrinated and radicalized and believe they are helping people. They have been brainwashed over many years into believing the outside world is filled with chaos and criminality, and that their mission, one they believe they are on through countless lifetimes, is to help eradicate this chaos. If someone is brainwashed for years into believing the outside world is filled with dangerous lunatics who wish to impede Scientology, a group of people running through a Scientology building is only going to confirm that belief and lead them to dedicate themselves even more to the cause they believe in. Mike Rinder and I discussed this on our podcast Fair Game: Scientologists, in particular Scientology Sea Org members, have a level of dedication and radicalization to Scientology that surpasses that of a jihadist terrorist. Running through a building is not going to break that or lead them to reconsider what they’ve given up their entire lives for. I also want to note that any Scientology building that someone is allowed to easily enter from the street is not a building where someone like David Miscavige or any senior Scientology executive is going to be. People at that level of Scientology’s criminal leadership will be behind gates and many layers of security. Please focus on exposing the dangers of Scientology, not making a spectacle out of it.

Leah Remini

141,676 views • 1 month ago

LeahRemini's profile picture

Over the years, many of you have joined me in celebrating this truly special girl turned young woman, Maddie. I am heartbroken to share with you that Maddie has passed away at the age of 21. I’m sharing a glimpse into my friendship with Maddie because I want people to know how truly special she was. I met Maddie when Kevin and I were filming Kevin Can Wait. Make-A-Wish America reached out and told us that a young girl’s wish was to meet us. I was so touched. This beautiful little girl was a fan of King of Queens? And we of course said yes. Maddie and her family came to visit us on set, and what started as a meet-and-greet turned into a real, almost decade-long, lasting friendship. Maddie would text me almost every day. She sent me funny videos, shared stories about her life, and came out to LA with her family, where I attempted to get her to expand her palate (though she always circled back to her favorite, a Caesar salad). We shared many beautiful moments that have kept me positive in moments of difficulty and darkness, and she was about to come to LA again, where I planned on celebrating her for her birthday and her recent accomplishments. Maddie had Spinal Muscular Atrophy type two (SMA), but she never let it define her. She was excited to begin advocacy work and had recently told me she was officially going to start speaking publicly about her experiences, not even for herself, but to help others. She had big dreams, and I was so proud watching her grow into the leader I always knew she was. Maddie loved her family and friends fiercely. For her young age, she would prefer to be with friends and family, playing games and our favorite, Phase 10. She loved all things girly: nails, hair, makeup, the Timberwolves. And she hated snow (though she lived in Minnesota), and more importantly, she loved helping people. She wrote me love notes daily, and I only hope I had let her know how much joy she brought me. It is me who hopes that she knew how much I loved her. I received this text from her friend Emma, whom I knew from the many funny videos Maddie sent me of the two of them. I’ve included it below. After flying to Minnesota to say goodbye (although she had already passed while I was in the air), I wanted her to know what she meant to me. That she was thinking of me in this way and wanted me to have the things she mentioned, that she cared so much, is also truly touching and heartbreaking. Maddie had so much life ahead of her. Her disease didn’t stop her spirit or dim her light. She was hopeful, brilliant, and genuinely excited for her future. I will miss her texts, her videos, and hearing from her every day. They always made me smile. I will miss her humor and the light she brought into this world every single day. Maddie had just turned 21. Her little body just couldn’t contain the big, beautiful life she was living. She was a force, taken too soon. If you feel moved, it would mean the world to her to support the cause she believed in so passionately: finding a cure for spinal muscular atrophy. Link to support Cure SMA is in my bio.

Leah Remini

257,852 views • 11 months ago