Leah Remini calls out Scientology for covering up sex abuse after Danny Masterson’s trial ends in mistrial
Daisy Phillipson
Featured Image Credit: Newscom / Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Leah Remini has called out Scientology for covering up sex abuse crimes after Danny Masterson’s trial ended in a hung jury.
The 52-year-old actress has been vocal about her negative experiences with the church after having left in 2013.
Since cutting ties, Remini has spoken out about the group and its former members' culture of 'abuse, heartbreak and harassment' in the 2016 docuseries, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.
She also called out Tom Cruise for a time where he allegedly 'basically yelled at [her] and told [her she was] not doing enough' for the organisation.
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And now she's shared her thoughts on the verdict of the trial of That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson.
The 46-year-old was charged with raping three women at his home in the Hollywood Hills between 2001 and 2003.
A jury consisting of six women and six men informed Judge Charlaine Olmedo on Wednesday (30 November) that they were ‘hopelessly deadlocked’ after deliberating a verdict just before Thanksgiving.
Judge Olmedo read aloud a note from the jurors which said: "We are not even close to coming to a unanimous decision on any of the three counts and are convinced this will not change."
After the judge declared a mistrial, another hearing was scheduled for 6 March, 2023 and 27 March, 2023 for Masterson to stand trial for a second time.
Taking to Twitter, Remini slammed the decision and accused Scientology leader David Miscavige of covering the sex abuse crimes of the religion's members.
"David Miscavige, I know you read my tweets," she wrote.
"There is nothing you can do to intimidate me into silence and I will not stop fighting you and the evil, criminal enterprise you control."
In a statement, the King of Queens star added: "While this is not the outcome I wanted for the survivors of Danny Masterson’s predation, I’m glad a retrial has already been rescheduled.
"My heart breaks for the women who have courageously and tirelessly fought for justice for over five years.
"For years, they have been targeted and harassed by Scientology and its agents. They have also been targeted and harassed by their family members and friends who remained in Scientology."
She continued: "I want to remind everyone that when you’re a Scientologist, you are strictly forbidden from reporting crimes to civil authorities that other Scientologists commit against you.
"You are ordered only to report things to internal Scientology authorities.
"Scientology will completely destroy your life if you dare to go to civil authorities, like the LAPD or FBI. And you will lose everything from your family, friends, and job overnight.
"These women did what they were told to do. They reported their rapes to internal Scientology authorities.
"And after they did that, they were not only blamed and abused; they were told that they weren’t raped and ordered them never to use the word 'rape' again."
Remini claimed that Scientology didn't report the crimes to the authorities before alleging that its 'evil leader' Miscavige 'obstructed justice and participated in a conspiracy to cover up these crimes'.
"They have done this many other times in cases of rape and other sexual misconduct," she added.