Outspoken former Scientologist Leah Remini believes Tom Cruise was aware of abuse allegedly occurring inside the Church of Scientology.
The 48-year-old actress, who has previously said Cruise could “end Scientology single-handedly“, even claimed that the actor had “been part of” the alleged abuses.
Speaking to The Daily Beast’s Marlow Stern, The King of Queens star claimed that Cruise had personally punished a high-ranking member of the church.
“He is very aware of the abuses that go on in Scientology,” Remini said.
“He’s been part of it.”
According to Remini, Cruise is considered one of the church’s highest ranking members – so much so that he is second only to David Miscavige, the church’s leader since 1986.
"Scientologists are told that Tom Cruise is saving the world single-handedly, so he is considered a deity within Scientology," Remini said.
"Tom is even called 'Mister Cruise' by staff members," she added.
The actress also said that Cruise is best friends with the church's leader, David Miscaviage, who even served as Cruise's best man when he married Katie Holmes in 2006.
"I've been told by a senior executive of Scientology, who was there, that David Miscavige constantly threatened the staff at Gold Base [the Church of Scientology headquarters] with bringing Tom Cruise to Gold Base to kick their f*cking asses," Remini alleged.
She also claimed that fellow Scientologists make sure Cruise does not see media like magazines which say "anything disparaging about Scientology."
Remini became a vocal critic of the Church of Scientology after leaving the church in 2013. She was a part of the church for 30 years.
In 2015, she release a book that damned the church titled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.
As previously reported in Mamamia, she then went on to release an eight-part documentary series titled Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.
Speaking on Real Time with Bill Maher following the release of her documentary series, Remini said that Cruise has an unrivalled influence over the church's success.
“He could end this single-handedly,” Maher suggested during the interview.
Remini agreed, adding: “Yes, because he is single-handedly clearing the planet most Scientologists believe.”
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