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Scientology and the aftermath1/31/2024 ![]() The moment feels like she’s going a step too far - interfering between husband and wife - but it’s revealing, demonstrating far more about Scientology than the litany of abuses detailed by the subject of “Star Witness,” the premiere episode. In the “Emotional Aftermath” special, Remini stops the conversation to point out that Rinder is unable to comfort his wife because of the way Scientology teaches followers to reject any emotion that isn’t anger. Remini is trying on a more reserved demeanor, but the moments that find her in full passionate outburst are the most compelling. Remini remains on as shepherdess and she’s joined again by Rinder, former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International and the Sea Organization. Unfortunately, neither the pre-air special nor the premiere episode attempts to tackle these big questions, instead presenting more of the same interviews and explainers about the religion we’ve already seen in the first two seasons. It’s not easy for a series to leave you both breathless and melancholy but Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermathmanages to achieve both. One pre-air special has Remini and Rinder interviewing Remini’s mother and sisters and Rinder’s wife it’s a lot of information that requires emotional heavy lifting. The third season begins with two specials that exist outside the season, presenting another three hours of content before the season premiere. One tactic to answer these questions is to bombard the audience with more information. These are all massive questions and incredibly ambitious to tackle. As the prominence of the series and Remini herself has shifted and grown, it’s not unreasonable to raise an eyebrow at the utility of “awareness.” The third season attempts to expand the focus by examining the tax-exempt status of Scientology, how the Church follows and harasses people who speak out publicly, and the search for Shelly Miscavige, the wife of the leader of the church who has not made a public appearance since 2007. The first two seasons relied heavily on Remini and Mike Rinder facilitating conversation by using their own histories breaking with the church. The show profiles former members of the church as they recount their experience within Scientology and their decision to leave the church. It’s natural for a docuseries to look beyond its two hosts and begin to examine their methods and influence. What impact is the show having on the Church of Scientology? Is the series having an impact? What should the impact of a series like this be? I stand by them and I stand by all Scientology victims who are willing to come forward.As A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath enters its third season, the series questions itself. ![]() These are women who are not willing to … I think they deserve their day in court. That’s their purpose: to scare people into not speaking. They know how to scare people into silence. I understand what that takes to keep your composure, to not be scared, to not feel violated, but Scientology knows how to f-k with people and their mind. You have people showing up to your home, on your property, and you’re going to the police and saying this is happening and I’m being harassed…. We’ve talked to all of, but only two felt comfortable coming forward at this time. Will portions from that episode appear in this special? I sensed you felt that way when it was reported that the Danny Masterson episode from season 3 was shelved. (A source close to the show tells EW that outside pressure from the church did not play a part in the decision to end the show, while an attorney for the church says Fair Game is not in action, and “exists only as a mantra used by anti-Scientologists to generate hate and bigotry against the Church and its members”). ![]() But, anyone forwarding Scientology’s bulls- is complicit to me. If you’re an advertiser, wherever you are, receiving 20-30 letters a week saying this show is hateful… they’ve accused me of inciting murder, and the New York Post ran with that headline, so did TMZ, and they can both kiss my fat ass for doing so. I’ve done the math there are about seven people writing those letters, all Scientologists working for the STAND League. Now, enter the STAND League, which is a front group for Scientology pretending to be an organization protecting the religious beliefs of others. Then, if that doesn’t work, go after their job. In short, the policy says find out what the person seeks to protect…. the Fair Game directives say you can certainly cost their job. That’s Scientology’s Fair Game policy, which the church says it has abandoned, right? Are you suggesting Scientology’s Fair Game policies played a role in the show’s end?
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