Crusader against the church of Scientology, Leah Remini claimed her marriage had been damaged by her dogged pursuit of exposing the hidden truths of the enigmatic organization.
Unnamed sources stated the "King of Queens" star's 56-year-old actor husband, Angelo Pagan, received a beating during their 2003 Scientology wedding, and the 54-year-old star claimed she had been hounded and targeted by the church's obsessive leaders and members. Sofia, who is 18 years old, is the couple's daughter.
“There were times Angelo asked Leah to stand down in her battle so they could get back to a semblance of a normal life, but she made it clear she wasn’t going to stop doing what she believes is right. She told Angelo if he couldn’t take the heat, he needed to get out of the kitchen!” an unnamed source told The National Enquirer.
Leah's mother, Vicki Marshall, took her to church when she was eight years old. However, her conflicts with Scientology leader David Miscavige led to the exclusion of her fellow churchgoers. This was because she exposed his wife Shelly's mysterious disappearance; Shelly has astonishingly not been seen in public since 2007.
In 2013, after Leah and Angelo departed from the church, she reported Shelly as missing.
She continued to attack Scientology in her best-selling memoir from 2015 and her Emmy-winning TV series, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which aired from 2016 to 2019, further intensifying her crusade to expose the organization's alleged abuses and exploitations.
Additionally, she sued Miscavige and the church last year, asserting that she had been the victim of harassment and stalking and that they plotted to derail her career, Deadline reported. The church has denied any involvement in the "reprisals" targeting her and her family, calling them "false."
“Leah has been laser-focused on exposing Scientology for the dangerous cult she believes it is, and unfortunately, her marriage collapsed under the weight of it. Angelo felt like a bystander in Leah’s personal war and their marriage became a casualty as a result,” the anonymous insider told the entertainment news outlet.
“Our bond is still strong — it’s just evolved into something different,” Leah explained when she announced the divorce. Leah finds herself in a similar situation as her close friend Jennifer Lopez, who also just filed for a divorce from Ben Affleck, even though their parting was amicable.
“This has been a bonding experience for Jennifer and Leah, but there is a difference — Jen hopes to find true love again, but Leah says at this point in her life, she’s focusing on herself and her war with Scientology instead of out hunting down a new man!” the undisclosed informant shared.
Business Times has reached out to Leah Remini for comments.
