Leah Remini, the actress best known for The King of Queens and her outspoken criticism of the Church of Scientology, has started filming Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The church has not contacted the show’s producers since Remini joined the cast as a full-time Housewife.
Leah Remini has joined RHOBH years after leaving the Church of Scientology and filing her lawsuit
Remini’s connection to Scientology goes back more than three decades. She spent over 30 years as a member of the organization before leaving in 2013. Since then, she has become one of its most vocal critics and has spoken publicly about her experiences with the church.
That conflict eventually turned into a legal battle. In 2023, Remini sued the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. In her lawsuit, she alleged that they carried out a coordinated campaign of stalking, harassment and retaliation after she left the organization.
However, Scientology denied her allegations and called the lawsuit “lunacy.”
Now, as Remini begins her new reality TV chapter, sources connected to RHOBH tell TMZ that producers have not heard from the church. Sources familiar with the situation believe the church may be staying silent because of Remini’s ongoing dispute with Scientology and her allegations against it.
Meanwhile, Remini’s casting almost did not happen. Her negotiations to join RHOBH reportedly went down to the wire, and the deal nearly collapsed before she ultimately signed on at the last minute.
Still, there appears to be nothing in Remini’s contract that prevents her from discussing Scientology while filming. As a result, her history with the organization could become part of the show if the topic comes up on camera.
For now, Remini has started filming her first season as a full-time Housewife. However, given her history with Scientology, viewers could potentially see that long-running conflict resurface during her RHOBH journey.
