‘‘We Need to Continue to Tell These Stories''

The outspoken actress and activist opens up about her ongoing fight for change as she films season 2 of the docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.

- Joey Nolfi

AFTER DEDICATING MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF her life to Scientology, ex-parishioner Leah Remini had one mission in creating her 2016 A&E show: to publicly expose what she alleged were abusive church policies—and inspire others to do the same. (In a statement, the church said all “allegations are false and are tired rumors stemming from the same small group of anti-Scientologists.”) Now Remini talks to EW about the series’ impact and what to expect from season 2, which premieres later this year.

When you left the church in 2013, did you plan to speak out against it?

No. You can leave quietly, and they won’t go after you or your family. If you start to speak out, the church goes after you.... I couldn’t just sit around watching people get bullied.

Season 1 of the show, which alleged extreme church practices, seemed to get people talking about Scientology like never before.

People have been talking about it, for decades.… [They] were just making fun of a belief system, and that’s not what this is about. You’ve never heard me ridicule or make fun of the Xenu story and what Scientologists truly believe.

At the end of the first season, you alluded to a legal campaign you were mounting. Will season 2 get into that?