With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Leah Remini 'Lost Friends' After Publicly Leaving Scientology

Leah Remini recently left the Church of Scientology very publicly, announcing that she felt she had been brainwashed and inquiring after the whereabouts of a church leader's wife who hasn't been seen for years. In a recent segment on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Remini claims that her decision to part ways with the controversial organization cost her some friends:
"We lost friends that can no longer talk to us who are still in the organization....these are friends that we've had for dozens of years. But I have great friends, other friends that are not in the church, that have stood by us. Our family is stronger, we're together and that's all I can ask for."
As she was departing the church, Remini claimed that she endured years of "interrogations" and "thought modification" for questioning one of the church leaders, David Miscavige. She also claimed that followers were encouraged to cut ties from family members who left the church, a policy she disagreed with.
Remini went on to file a missing person's report for Shelly Miscavige, David's wife, who Remini claims hasn't been seen in public for six years. Church spokesman Tommy Davis reportedly told Remini, when she initially asked about Miscavige, "You don’t have the fucking rank to ask about Shelly."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.”
-
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week.
-
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to declare immigration enforcement actions a local emergency.
-
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues.
-
People in and around recent burn scars should be alert to the risk of debris flows. Typical October weather will be back later this week.
-
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce.