Leah Remini: Church of Scientology experiences as a child discussed in ABC interview

Leah Remini’s memoir about her experience with the Church of Scientology — of which she was member for over three decades — arrives Nov. 3, and the actress recently sat down with ABC for an exclusive interview about the book, titled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.

In the interview, Remini recounts the difficulties of joining the church as a child. “Because Scientologists view children as spirtual beings, you’re not treated as a kid,” she said. “So you’re given a lot of responsibility. Your ego becomes extremely inflated.”

Remini left the church in 2013, and told ABC that it was a difficult to walk away. “The decision to leave is you’re giving up everything you’ve ever known and everything you’ve worked for your whole life. I feel that people need to understand that this has been my whole life. I want them to understand how it happens,” she said.

See the snippet below, and watch the full interview — which also includes the previously released clips of Remini discussing the connection between Scientology and Tom Cruise — when it airs Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

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