While the majority of the world freaked the f**k out with excitement when Bennifer got back together, it turns out J.Lo’s pals were freaking out for a very different reason — because they HATE the Good Will Hunting star! Yikes!

A source told Page Six on Thursday that the pop star’s longtime manager Benny Medina had some of the strongest feelings about the actor, though he kept them to himself this time unlike the pair’s first coupling. They explained:

“The two of them can’t stand each other. They don’t get along and there’s still bad blood.”

Damn!

Related: What’s Taking Ben & Jennifer So Long? Divorce Lawyer Explains Delay!

As Perezcious readers might recall, Benny helped skyrocket Jenny from the Block to fame until she cut ties with him in 2003. You know, when she was dating Ben for the first time! According to insiders, the Air director was a large factor in that decision to let Medina loose. And it’s telling that after Bennifer split in 2004, she only lasted a few years before re-hiring Medina, who has been one of her closest confidantes ever since.

So, as you can imagine, Benny wasn’t so thrilled when Affleck entered the picture again. But rather than be brutally honest this time, he “kept his mouth shut” about the romance and marriage, another source dished:

“His attitude was, ‘I’m gonna say nothing.’ [There] was no, ‘Good for you,’ but also, [he] wasn’t negative.”

They continued:

“He knows her and he knew she was going to marry him no matter what, so what’s the point?”

It’s probably smart that he took that approach, because another one of the Marry Me lead’s close friends decided to question the relationship and paid the price for it! Yup, we’re talking about Leah Remini. They became friends through the Let’s Get Loud performer’s ex-husband Marc Anthony and had been super tight until Leah told J.Lo to think about the reason they broke up in the first place before starting things with Ben again! A source previously told the outlet:

“Because he is selfish and not fully committed as a partner. J.Lo was so mad [at Remini that] she cut off all ties.”

Guess the mother of two didn’t like anyone bursting her love bubble! Leah was notably not invited to the couple’s lavish wedding, but they did reconnect earlier this year amid divorce rumors, the source noted. Once again, there seems to be a pattern here! Perhaps Jennifer should’ve listened to her besties in the first place? They seemed to be right about their concerns the whole time!

And just to be clear, this dislike for Ben stretched far beyond just these two. The second source insisted:

“No one, except [Lopez’s] mother, likes Ben Affleck. He’s a triple-A a**hole.”

Jeez!

Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard that he has this upsetting reputation…

The source then pointed to the current divorce situation as proof of his a**hole tendencies. The duo has been dealing with rumored marital woes for months and are said to be getting a divorce, but Ben is supposedly holding off on filing papers so he doesn’t humiliate his estranged wife — though that plan hasn’t been helping! A source continued:

“She’s furious. He has humiliated her. He was the one who initiated getting back together.”

They both clearly had unresolved feelings for each other and were eager to give this one last shot, but we get why she’d be feeling salty now! The second source added:

“This was definitely not on her bingo card. She would’ve scratched someone’s eyes out if they told her [they’re] splitting up less than two years in.”

Yeesh! What a visual. It’s obvious, though, how hard she tried if she was willing to cut out her closest friends to give this relationship a try! Too bad it was all for nothing!! Thoughts? Sound OFF (below)!

[Image via MEGA/Adriana M. Barraza/WENN]

The post Jennifer Lopez’s Inner Circle HATES Ben Affleck -- And Calls Him WHAT Behind His Back?! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

We heard recently Jennifer Lopez and her former BFF Leah Remini were finally reconciling after a huge falling out. What we’d always heard was how much Leah couldn’t get on board with Ben Affleck — and warned J.Lo he’d break her heart again. Jen didn’t want to hear that, hence the big fight — and the King of Queens star wasn’t even invited to the wedding. Ouch!

So now that Bennifer is falling through again, we heard earlier this week, Leah reached out to her bestie to show support. And the friendship was about to bloom once again…

But how much of that is true??

Photos: Bennifer ‘Frosty’? What’s Changed? Body Language Expert Takes Deep Dive…

DeuxMoi revealed on her Deux U podcast Thursday that a source told her this little reunion wasn’t going so well — because the falling out wasn’t all about Ben! There were serious issues between them before that!

Apparently back when they first fell out, source explained Leah had been annoying J.Lo ever since they co-starred in a movie called Second Act back in 2018. Per this source:

“J.Lo gave Leah a third tier part in it, and Leah milked it for all it was worth, just constantly posting about how they were best friends in the whole wide world and posting funny bloopers and outtakes, and just riding the whole ‘we are besties forever’ thing hard.”

They definitely gave that impression on the promo tour for the movie…

This insider says while they were “very good friends,” it wasn’t the way Leah was painting it because in reality she “was never J.Lo’s number one best friend” and Jen “always had an inner circle that didn’t include Leah.” Damn.

“J.Lo got really turned off by how much Leah hyped the friendship, and she was already a bit annoyed before that when Leah wrote so much about her in her book, all about escaping Scientology, where it made it seem like she risked life and death protecting J.Lo and Marc from being indoctrinated at Tom and Katie’s wedding, which wasn’t true.”

Dang! If Leah really was exaggerating her closeness with J.Lo, no wonder it was a turnoff! Seems like the Love Don’t Cost A Thing singer was willing to brush all that off… but then Ben came back in the picture. Deux’s source confirms Leah isn’t a fan of Ben. But apparently she still tried to get Bennifer to go on double dates out with her and her husband — and the Good Will Hunting alum wasn’t into it! He apparently didn’t dig Leah OR her husband!

OK, so with all that in mind… Deux reached out to an insider to ask about the reconciliation story. Are J.Lo and Leah cool again?

The source told her it is true they’ve reconnected, but “it’s not likely to go anywhere” because Leah is back to overhyping her position in J.Lo’s circle:

“Leah is trying to make it seem like she was some kind of fortune teller about the Ben reunion being doomed and was the brave friend who said something to J.Lo about it and therefore was iced out. That’s not true.”

Right, because if the initial falling out stuff was less about Ben, and more about how Jen felt about Leah and her… sorry to say it, but clout-chasing… then of course girl coming in and saying she was the only one who had her back, the only real friend, of course that’s going to be annoying as hell!

We mean, that would be kind of obnoxious if it was true, let alone this situation in which the insider says it’s not the source of the rift anyway, which was that Leah has “always oversold this friendship.” Damn.

Innerestingly, the source goes on to say Leah “was far from the only person to have misgivings” about the rekindling with Ben, and to share their concerns with J.Lo. Huh. Sounds like Jen has lots of shoulders to cry on if she needs them. Though right now we’ve been hearing she’s not ready to mourn the relationship yet an is still in fighting mode.

What do YOU think, Perezcious readers? Do you buy what this source is saying about these so-called BFFs??

[Image via The Late Late Show With James Corden/YouTube.]

The post Jennifer Lopez & Leah Remini's Reconnection NOT Going Well -- Because They Fell Out Over More Than Ben Affleck! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

It really sounds like the early reports about Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck‘s marriage being in trouble were understating it if anything. Recently we’ve heard they aren’t so much on the road to divorce as they’ve already arrived, parked, and checked their coats. A report from Deux U Thursday had a source claiming lawyers were already working hard to finalize it so they could announce. Damn. It sounds like Bennifer 2.0 is already over.

So who does J.Lo turn to in such a devastating time? When the man she thought was her destiny, the love of her life, is leaving her again? How about the one friend who told her not to fall for his BS??

Related: Ben Affleck Wants Jennifer Lopez ‘To Overhaul Her Career’

Big fans may recall back in 2022 there was a report about how Jen was feuding with her BFF Leah Remini over this exact issue. An insider told Radar Online at the time how Leah doesn’t like Ben and advised her bestie not to take him back:

“Leah was there for Jen when Ben broke her heart. Leah knows everything, all the ugly details about what went down between her best friend and Ben. No wonder she doesn’t like him. Jennifer might have been ready to move on and forgive Ben, but Leah hasn’t and is worried it will happen again.”

Well, on Friday a source told Page Six that was 100% the reason J.Lo and Leah haven’t been on speaking terms for two years! They say the King of Queens star blasted Ben “because he is selfish and is not fully committed as a partner.” That caused Jen, who wanted to believe the best, to ice out her girl:

“J.Lo was so mad, she cut off all ties.”

The source says Leah wasn’t even invited to the wedding! So that’s why she wasn’t there! Damn!

Obviously she could have been vindictive, took a victory lap and said, “I told you so.” But according to the insider, she reached out privately to offer her support in this difficult time. Because first and foremost she cares about Jen.

Damn. That really warms the heart.

J.Lo could really use a shoulder and an ear at the moment, too. Not only is she losing her man, she’s taking a big career hit this year, canceling her entire tour after disappointing ticket sales (though some claim it’s for personal reasons). Innerestingly, a LiveNation rep did say J.Lo “is taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends.” Now we have to wonder if one of the closest friends right now is the one who just had her best interests at heart, even if it meant pissing off her girl.

What do you think of this reconciliation, Perezcious readers? Have YOU ever lost a girlfriend over a guy, only for the guy to go bye-bye this quick? Tell us your stories in the comments!

[Image via Sheri Determan/MEGA/WENN.]

The post Jennifer Lopez Reconnects With BFF Leah Remini Years After Huge Fight Over 'Selfish' Ben Affleck: SOURCE appeared first on Perez Hilton.

Madame Tussauds unveiled their brand new Beyoncé sculpture in Blackpool, England on Thursday! It can be seen wearing a sparkly bodysuit with the singer’s signature caramel curls and smokey eyes. But fans think it’s way more reminiscent of a totally different celeb with a very similar look — Leah Remini!

Related: Jay-Z BLASTS Grammys For Never Awarding Beyoncé Album Of The Year!

Fans were quick to spot the similarity, teasing on social media:

“That’s leah remini with a tan”

“Beyoncé Giselle Leah Remini-Knowles-Carter.”

“I thought this was Leah Remini before I opened the pic.”

Even the actress was SHOOK by the comparison. Sharing a photo of the figure on X (Twitter), she freaked out:

“I am screaming! And loving all the tweets! This perimenopausal woman will take any and all comparisons to the beautiful Beyoncé!”

LOLz! It is an AWESOME compliment! See for yourself (below):

As far as wax figure fails go — and we’ve seen plenty, even the 2017 Queen Bey figure in NYC was criticized for not looking like her at all — this is about as good as it can get! Right?? There could be worse results with some really bad mistakes!

Thoughts? Do U think it looks like Leah at all?! Sound OFF (below)!

[Image via WENN/Avalon]

The post Fans Think Beyoncé's New Wax Figure Looks EXACTLY Like… Leah Remini?! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

Danny Masterson has been EXPELLED from the Church of Scientology, according to a bombshell report from DailyMail.com! The news comes from private investigator Jeffrey Augustine, who has been digging into the Church’s alleged wrongdoings on his Scientology Money Project website for years now.

The That ’70s Show alum was convicted of rape back in May — and sentenced to a whopping 30 years to life last month. One could understand why any organization might want to distance themselves. But the funny thing here is… the Church was accused of trying to help Danny get away with it! Multiple victims have claimed Scientology members pressured them not to report their allegations — threatening them with disturbing consequences. And now that it came out, despite their machinations, they’re distancing themselves? Wow.

Augustine tells DM the Church’s official position is still that Danny is innocent of the charges!

“They are telling Scientologists that he will file an appeal and that he is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted. They (church officials) declared Danny a suppressive person for not maintaining the high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons — but not because he was convicted of rape.”

That or they just know a PR disaster when they see one.

In any case the consequences from the expulsion are all too real. This isn’t just being disinvited to Sunday bake sales. According to Augustine, the disgraced actor has been declared a “suppressive person” or “SP.” For those who haven’t gone clear or aftermathed with Leah Remini, this is a HUGE deal. Church members are not allowed to have any contact with SPs. They’re essentially shunned!

This is a big problem for Bijou Phillips. Danny’s wife has long stood by his side. Like the Church, she believes he’s innocent and has continued to support him despite the guilty verdict. She has gone and seen him in prison. And now… she’s being forced by their church to CUT OFF ALL CONTACT! To her HUSBAND! Oof. Yet another blow to her…

Related: Bijou Denies She & Danny Were Living Apart Before Rape Conviction

But how do Masterson’s victim feel about this added consequence? Chrissie Carnell Bixler told DM it’s about time:

“They should have declared him an SP when I originally went to them.”

Augustine reiterates this is NOT because they think he committed rape — but purely about the optics, if only to their own members:

“A lot of Scientologists were complaining that they have friends and family members that they can’t talk to because they were declared suppressive. They questioned why Danny Masterson was allowed to be a Scientologist in good standing when he’s brought such a horrible public relations situation on to the church with his felony rape convictions. So the members are asking why were their friends and family declared for reading the internet, watching Leah Remini’s show, and doing other things that are far below what Masterson was charged with?”

So first they try to sweep his crimes under the rug, then they declare him SP because it looks bad? It’s almost like they care more about how the Church looks than the actual morality of his actions…

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.

[Image via MEGA/WENN.]

The post Danny Masterson Expelled From Scientology & Declared A 'Suppressive Person' -- Wife Bijou Phillips Has To Cut Off Contact! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

ICYMI, the That ‘70s Show alum was sentenced to three decades to LIFE behind bars for his rape conviction on Thursday. He had previously been found guilty of raping two women between 2001 and 2003, and was accused of sexually assaulting his former girlfriend, but the jury couldn’t come to a verdict on that charge. He has been a known member of the Church of Scientology for years, and now, Leah — a former member herself — is speaking out.

Related: Is Elon Musk Keeping Grimes’ Son From Her??

On Wednesday afternoon, she took to X (Twitter) to share just how “grateful” she is following the sentencing — which she was there for in person:

“I am relieved that this dangerous rapist will be off the streets and unable to violently assault and rape women with the help of Scientology, a multi-billion-dollar criminal organization with tax-exempt status.”

She went on:

“Hearing the survivors read their victim impact statements aloud in court while the man who raped them and some of the very Scientologists who terrorized them over two decades were just a few feet away displayed a level of bravery that I am in awe of.”

And shared more:

“These women not only faced the living hell of being raped, having their rapes covered up by the very organization that promised to protect them, but they have also faced ruthless and criminal harassment by Scientology and its agents since they came forward to law enforcement.”

Wow.

What a harrowing reality, which Leah sadly knows all too much about. Thankfully, she’s brave enough to speak out. She also added that “in Scientology if you report another Scientologist to law enforcement, you are committing a high crime. The consequences of such a high crime are devastating: you will lose everything you’ve ever known, from your family to your friends to your job.”

However, she commended the victims who “fought tirelessly for justice” nonetheless.

“The women who survived Danny’s predation fought tirelessly for justice. Their tenacity, strength, and courage have given hope to all victims of Scientology that justice is possible. For that, we will forever be grateful. … To the LAPD detectives, the LA District Attorney’s office, Judge Olmedo, and the jury, we thank you for your fair and impartial approach to this case and trial.”

Read her statement in its entirety (below):

My statement on the sentencing of Scientologist Danny Masterson:

"Sitting in court today with the women who survived Danny Masterson's predation was a surreal experience. Over the past seven decades, former Scientologists have sadly become used to Scientology using its…

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) September 7, 2023

Thoughts?? Is Leah doing a good job attempting to expose Scientology?

Let us know in the comments down below…

[Images via Adriana M. Barraza/Joseph Marzullo/WENN]

The post Leah Remini Slams Scientology & ‘Dangerous’ Danny Masterson Following Rape Sentencing appeared first on Perez Hilton.

On Wednesday, the 53-year-old actress took to X (Twitter) to share some “important news” with everyone. In the lengthy post, she revealed she filed a lawsuit against the church and its leader, David Miscavige:

“I wanted to share some important news. After 17 years of harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation, I am filing a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige.”

The King of Queens alum went on to say that the church’s alleged attempts to “silence” her haven’t worked, and she will continue to fight for the “victims” of the “cult with a tax exemption and billions in assets”:

“While advocating for victims of Scientology has significantly impacted my life and career, Scientology’s final objective of silencing me has not been achieved. While this lawsuit is about what Scientology has done to me, I am one of thousands of targets of Scientology over the past seven decades. People who share what they’ve experienced in Scientology, and those who tell their stories and advocate for them, should be free to do so without fearing retaliation from a cult with tax exemption and billions in assets.”

Whoa.

Related: Leah Reacts To Jerrod Carmichael’s Golden Globes Joke About Scientology!

She continued and said the press, as well as families of Scientology members, law enforcement, and those in the entertainment industry, shouldn’t face an alleged “sophisticated intelligence operation” from the church — one that she claims destroys “lives and careers”:

“The press has a right to report about Scientology without facing a sophisticated intelligence operation from Scientology to destroy their personal lives and their careers. Law enforcement authorities have a right to investigate crimes in Scientology without fear that they will lose their jobs. Children, mothers, fathers, aunts, and uncles have a right to request welfare checks on their family members without fear of an operation activated against them by Scientology for doing so. Those in the entertainment business should have a right to tell jokes and stories without facing an operation from Scientology which uses its resources in Hollywood to destroy their lives and careers.”

Leah finished up her statement by saying she’s doing this to help those who don’t have a way to “fight back”:

“With this lawsuit, I hope to protect the rights afforded to them and me by the Constitution of the United States to speak the truth and report the facts about Scientology without fear of vicious and vindictive retribution, of which most have no way to fight back.”

See her full statement (below):

I wanted to share some important news.

After 17 years of harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation, I am filing a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige.

While advocating for victims of Scientology has significantly impacted my life and career,…

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) August 2, 2023

As we’ve previously covered, the Kevin Can Wait star has been very outspoken about her experiences with Scientology for years. July marked a decade since she made the decision to leave the church, and ever since then she’s advocated for others who have left, and has spoken out against what she calls corrupt practices within the organization.

In legal docs filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by PageSix on Wednesday, the People Puzzler host alleges the church “stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated” her, as well as created “intentional malicious and fraudulent rumors via hundreds of Scientology-controlled and -coordinated social media accounts that exist solely to intimidate and spread misinformation” against her. The documents go on to claim her friends, colleagues, and family have also been “incessantly harassed, threatened, intimidated, and embarrassed”.

Wow… so, so awful to hear. What do U think about Leah taking the step to sue Scientology after all these years, Perezcious readers? Sound OFF in the comments (below).

[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com]

The post Leah Remini Is Suing The Church Of Scientology After 17 Years Of Alleged 'Harassment, Intimidation, Surveillance, & Defamation' appeared first on Perez Hilton.

The Underground Bunker’s Tony Ortega revealed back in 2016 that the singer was fighting a war with the organization behind the scenes, helping stories come to light that exposed the most despicable practices of her former faith.

Related: News Anchor Allegedly Fired For Saying Lisa Was Planning Scientology Takedown!

Now Ortega has released the definitive interview with Lisa Marie on the subject of her involvement with the Church. And as she says, “it’s a f**king hell of a story.”

The King’s Daughter

She began by explaining:

“I got in right after my father died.”

Apparently Elvis Presley was a big target for Scientology; they regularly sent him books and other materials to try to get him on board. But after his death in 1977, it was his ex-wife Priscilla Presley who found all of the books and got curious. She reached out to John Travolta, who got her in touch with the right people who got her right in — her and her daughter. Lisa Marie was just 9 years old. And she says while her famous mom was treated like a VIP, as a kid she was treated like a bother. She said Priscilla “would dump me off at Scientology” bases:

“My mom was always trying to figure out what to do with me. I had watches on me. I thought at one point that I wanted to join the Sea Org just to get out of my mom’s house.”

Whoa! For those who don’t know, the Sea Organization is the group of super-dedicated workers who allegedly work non-stop for $25/week and have to sign billion-year contracts that say they have to come back in subsequent lives and continue to serve. Cray.

As a teen she was looked after by the then-captain of the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida, a woman named Debbie Cook. She said:

“I loved Debbie. And what happened to her really wrecked me.”

Debbie was involved in a legal battle with the Church in 2012. They sued her for speaking out to other members against some of leader David Miscavige’s practices — apparently she “won,” scoring a settlement after going public with descriptions of “The Hole,” an alleged prison where Miscavige was illegally detaining people. Eventually Debbie told Lisa her “whole life has been a manipulation.”

But what really opened Lisa’s eyes happened a lot earlier. When she turned 25 years old (this would have been in 1993), she qualified for her inheritance from her father’s enormous estate. Suddenly Scientology was much more interested in her. She recalled bitterly:

“At 25, after I got the inheritance, they started grooming me to be this person who would go out and get everyone else in.”

“Out to get” whom? Well, they wanted the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Of course they wanted the King of Pop, too.

Michael Jackson

Yes, Scientology was quite keen on Lisa Marie bringing Michael Jackson into the fold. Their controversial 1994 marriage was not staged, she maintained; she wasn’t just there as a honeypot for the Church. But the organization did try to use their union as a way to get him.

MJ famously grew up a Jehovah’s Witness, but they saw what they thought was a vulnerable celeb they could manipulate. Instead, it turned out he was a force they couldn’t control. Lisa Marie says “they realized he was getting too much bad press” and decided to give up on trying to recruit him. Surprisingly, Lisa Marie explained, Scientology didn’t push her to marry the Thriller singer in the first place, but they did pressure her to leave him! She told Ortega:

“I was in love with Michael, believe it or not. I didn’t want to leave him. He was in trouble and I wanted to help him. And they made sure that I left him.”

She said Miscavige himself, as well as lawyer John P. Coale, convinced her to file for divorce when things weren’t going well between them. They told her if MJ filed first he’d have a huge legal advantage. She recalled:

“One morning I got a call from John Coale. He said, ‘Michael’s going to make a move. He’s going to file.’ So I filed.”

Coale denies this, saying he not only “never told her to love or unlove Mr. Jackson” but also that there was no legal reason to file first because there were no children or financial stakes to fight over.

But Lisa said she thought her situation was akin to that of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. She says of the movie star couple:

“I know how in love they were. But they were driven apart.”

Huh.

Operating Thetan Level 7

When asked about how far up in the org she and her mom got, Lisa explained that Priscilla never got to the higher levels:

“My mom’s not Clear. She takes courses and reads books, but she’s not involved.”

Lisa on the other hand got up to Operating Thetan Level 7, the second highest auditing level. It apparently takes a long time, sometimes years to finish — but it was the wall that Lisa hit with the religion. She finally learned enough to realize she was out:

“I never finished it. I quit after three months. It was bulls**t. It was just about control. It was just a way of getting more money.”

And when was it that they got interested in her? Mm-hm.

Scientology Friends

Ortega asked Lisa about her relationships with some of the more famous Church members. She said she detested Tom Cruise from the start:

“I f**king hate Tom. I met him 20 years ago. I said I never want to be in a room with him again.”

Well. What about John Travolta, who first ushered her family into the Church in the first place? There are no hard feelings on that score, she says:

“John is my last Scientology friend. Kelly [Preston] kind of monitors us. John and I get unruly if we’re together. John is renting my house in Hawaii right now.”

[BTW, this interview was a few years ago, before the passing of Kelly Preston in 2020. RIP.]

She revealed she and John would have long late night conversations about what the rest of the world was saying about Scientology, something which was forbidden. According to her, Travolta was basically completely oblivious to all of that:

“I told him about the HBO thing. He had no idea. I told him that Debbie Cook was gone. He had no idea. He has no Internet or email. He’s so sheltered. All he knows is what they tell him. He’s smart but sheltered.”

Wow.

Where Are The Miscaviges?

Shelly Miscavige, wife of the Leader David Miscavige, has apparently been missing for years. And David himself has disappeared recently as well. Lisa didn’t know for sure where they were, but she gave her best guess. She agrees with vocal ex-Scientologist Mike Rinder that Shelly is being held against her will at a compound in the San Bernardino Mountains. She stated matter-of-factly:

“She is at that place at Arrowhead. She’s under 24/7 guard.”

She even asked David where she was after she first disappeared so many years ago, and he told her simply, “Compilations.” That meant she was doing some kind of special mission. But he didn’t say what. And apparently it’s never been finished…

As for David, she said the last time she saw him was around 2011. She already had a foot out the door but it sounds like this made her decision more clear, no pun intended…

“While I was beginning to realize how f**ked up everything was, and how many criminals there were, I had dinner with him at Nobu four years ago in London. Listening to him talk about how great Scientology was doing was like hearing Hitler talking about how he has chimneys and smoke coming out of everywhere. All he could talk about was Tom or buildings. A four-hour dinner.”

Geez. Lisa mentioned how Leah Remini very publicly defecting in 2013 changed everything. She said David basically disappeared after that, let alone all the child-trafficking-lawsuit subpoena evasion:

“My mom is still friends with [a Scientology attorney who] told her that Dave is so paranoid now, nobody sees him. Nobody sees him. He’s going into an underground bunker period.”

Ortega mentions she laughed as she called back to the name of the publication she was speaking with. She was witty like that. But she wasn’t joking about him going into hiding. She reiterated:

“He’s going into that bunker phase.”

That was years ago. It’s only now that he’s really being looked for that anyone on the outside realized, we guess.

Lisa’s Exit

So how did Lisa come to leave Scientology herself?

She realized she was done many, many years ago, but she left very carefully. She started gathering ammo in 2007, asking questions and gathering info. A lot of what she found ended up in the Going Clear documentary. She said in 2015:

“For the last eight years, I’ve been putting together everything that was in that special.”

Wow! Her name wasn’t closely associated with the film, which was made by director Alex Gibney.

She isn’t mentioned in the credits or on the IMDB page. But she was helping from behind the scenes the whole time, getting info from David’s father Ron Miscavige and friend (and escapee) Roanne Horwich. She said:

“While I was questioning Ron and Roanne, my mom and daughter were still in. I had to be real careful. I didn’t want to get them in trouble.”

She started asking all these questions years before leaving, speaking to members who knew about the unsavory things the organization was doing AND were willing to talk about it. And it was what she learned from them that drove her to leave the Church. Ultimately it was learning about The Hole.

First revealed publicly in a Tampa Bay Times exposé in 2009, The Hole is allegedly a set of offices in Int Base, or “Gold Base,” near Hemet, California. According to those who have spoken out, David Miscavige had created The Hole in 2004 as a place to punish disobedient underlings. They are allegedly imprisoned there and forced to “accuse each other of disloyalty” in bizarre “seances.” It was when she learned about the imprisonment of Church members that Lisa Marie decided:

“No way, that’s not why I joined this.”

She had her final stand with the organization in 2014. She took her son, Benjamin Kough (who was never a Scientologist) and then-husband Michael Lockwood down to Florida to confront David Miscavige, whom she had once legitimately considered a friend, about the worst things she’d heard:

“I was just going to go there and see if it’s as bad as everyone said. So I went to the headquarters in Clearwater.”

Ron Miscavige called her when he found out, asking what she was planning.

“‘I don’t f**king know,’ I told him. ‘I’m here with a wand checking for bugs in the hotel room. I don’t know.’ … I just know that I started to self-destruct because this thing [Scientology] is corrupt. I needed closure.”

Ron told her she’d never be allowed in to see his son, not anymore. She recalled:

“Dave is too f**king scared to talk to me. I’m in the belly of the beast. It was his terrain, but I was obviously not afraid. He’s afraid.”

She was let into the Flag Building by a Sea Org officer, but David wasn’t there. There were cameras, though. She deduced this was the closest she would get. So she picked a camera and said her piece to it:

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Are you throwing everyone in The Hole? You just made the biggest mistake of your life, you just broke up your own family. Somebody needs to stop you.”

She says when she was back at her hotel she got called back in. The officer told her she wasn’t allowed to be in touch with “SP,” or “suppressive person,” Ron. They asked her to come in and speak to David’s sisters, Denise and Lori. So she went back, once again into the room with just cameras, she assumed streaming straight to David’s bunker. It wasn’t exactly a conversation:

“Denise starts screaming at me. I’d met her before. I wouldn’t say we were friends. She’s screaming about how Ron had beat her mother. How he would drink when he was looking over the kids.”

She added:

“I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I remained completely unemotional while Denise was screaming all kinds of crazy s**t. It was all a show for Dave. I kind of had a smile on my face the whole time.”

She eventually screamed at her that it wasn’t her business and to stay out of their family affairs. Lisa responded:

“‘I’m done, Denise. Good job.’ I tried to be as calm as possible.”

Lisa remembered turning to the Sea Org officer:

“I looked over at his little henchwoman. ‘That was not a two-way conversation,’ I said… ‘That was supposed to handle me? If that was on YouTube, do you think anyone would ever walk in here again?'”

Damn! Lisa was smooth!

She said she went back one more time, the next day, attempting to speak to David about what had happened the day before. This time she had Lockwood and Ben with her — safety in numbers. She remembered telling the officer:

“I at least need you to acknowledge the fact that was a tiny iota insane. This is the SS, Dave is Hitler. I didn’t join this. I want nothing to do with this. My family will have my back.”

The officer told her:

“You need to go into confessional now and get your overts off.”

Lisa was not having that! She was done with Church mumbo jumbo:

“I told her ‘F**k you. You’re trying to shut me the f**k up and you’re not going to do it.’ She told me that I could leave. ‘Fine, I’m leaving. And when I walk out that door, you’re never seeing me again.’ As I stood up and walked out, she said she would let me know if they declared me. ‘I’ll let the whole world know if you do,’ I said.”

She says everything was civil. Scientology members helped her and her family pack, but not in a threatening way. She noted:

“But I’ve had PIs on me ever since.”

Lisa Marie Presley was in fact declared SP. She says that means the Church immediately started making up lies to spread about her:

“I’m a suppressive person, and I’m the reason my dad died and MJ died. That’s what’s being said inside Scientology.”

How the heck would she be the reason Elvis died? She was 9!!!

She went and talked to her mother and to eldest daughter Riley Keough, who had been part of the Church. She says she told Priscilla:

“Mom, I know you love doing your courses. But you’re going to have to have my f**king back.”

Thankfully they both listened. When she left the Church in 2014, she said, “They walked when I did.”

After that Lisa hired a “bad ass lawyer” who was able to get the police report about the private investigators who were following Ron. But she kept clear of it while it all surfaced. She stayed a silent partner in the war on Scientology. Why? She explained:

“The actual reason is, I have two nannies. They’re both Scientologists. My children are so in love with them. And I have a security executive guy who works with me, and he’s a Scientologist.”

She thought her young kids would be “destroyed” if they lost their nannies. She said:

“That’s the only thing holding me back. Believe me, when I want to go, I go.”

But she was still scared about what the Church might do to retaliate — or keep her quiet. She said about her old friend Dave:

“He gave me all that information about his family and then let me walk out? You have to be joking. I’m being followed. I don’t know what he’s going to do. He’s going to lose his s**t at some point.”

Asked if she thought Miscavige was scared of her, she replied:

“He should be. I have a hell of a lot of information on him.”

Chilling.

What do YOU think of Lisa Marie’s untold story of her experience with Scientology??

[Image via Nicky Nelson/DJDM/WENN.]

The post Lisa Marie Presley Explains Why She Left Scientology In Shocking Unreleased Interview! appeared first on Perez Hilton.

By now you’ve surely heard the shocking news that Elvis Presley’s daughter has passed away at just 54 years old after suffering cardiac arrest. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, confirmed the tragedy to People in a Thursday statement, explaining:

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us. She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”

Related: Remembering All The Stars We Lost In 2022

Her death came just two days after she appeared at the Golden Globes in support of Baz Luhrmann and Austin Butler’s Elvis biopic. The actor actually thanked the Presley family in his Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture speech:

“Thank you guys. Thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me. Lisa Marie, Pricilla, I love you forever.”

While the star has yet to react to her shocking passing, other celebs have been sharing their support on social media as the harrowing news settles. Tom Hanks, who played Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager in the 2022 film, wrote on Instagram late Thursday night:

“We are heartbroken over the loss of Lisa Marie Presley. Absolutely broken… Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson”

John Travolta took to the photo sharing app to write:

“Lisa baby girl, I’m so sorry. I’ll miss you but I know I’ll see you again. My love and heart goes out to Riley [Keough], Priscilla, Harper and Finley [Lockwood].”

Octavia Spencer then wrote on Twitter:

“So sad that we’ve lost another bright star in Lisa Marie Presley. My condolences to her loved ones and multitude of fans.”

So sad that we’ve lost another bright star in Lisa Marie Presley. My condolences to her loved ones and multitude of fans.

— octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) January 13, 2023

Bret Michaels followed suit, tweeting:

“My deepest thoughts & condolences go out to the family / friends on the loss of @LisaPresley. #LisaMariePresley”

My deepest thoughts & condolences go out to the family / friends on the loss of @LisaPresley. #LisaMariePresley

— Bret Michaels (@bretmichaels) January 13, 2023

Leann Rimes then wrote on the app:

“lisa marie presley… how heartbreaking. i hope she is at peace in her dad’s arms. my heart goes out to her family. too much grief in just a couple of years. #riplisamarie #LisaMariePresley”

lisa marie presley… how heartbreaking. i hope she is at peace in her dad’s arms. my heart goes out to her family. too much grief in just a couple of years. #riplisamarie #LisaMariePresley

— leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) January 13, 2023

Related: Pricilla’s Emotional Words After Lisa Marie’s Hospitalization

Linda Thompson, who dated Elvis from 1972 to 1976, took to Instagram with a tribute to Lisa Marie. Her post’s caption reads:

“My heart is too heavy for words…”

So tragic. You can truly feel how loved and cherished Lisa Marie was. From Jennifer Tilly to Billy Corgan, Pink, and others, see more tributes (below):

So sad about Lisa Marie Presley. Oddly I was just at Graceland yesterday and took this picture. The guide was telling us that sometimes she would have dinners in the dining room, and once she had a party for her friends in the plane named after her. Rip sweet soul.????️ pic.twitter.com/KvHOmgt31F

— Jennifer Tilly (@JenniferTilly) January 13, 2023

There is heartbreak and then there is sorrow. This would be sorrow and on more levels than I can count. Please send your prayers out for her family and children at this difficult time. I truly cannot find the words to express how sad this truly is. RIP @LisaPresley pic.twitter.com/Iac6b1gbIt

— William Patrick Corgan (@Billy) January 13, 2023

Utterly devastated to learn of the hideously premature death of a surprisingly sweet, fierce, generous, talented and painfully vulnerable Lisa Marie Presley.
I will treasure you always in my heart girl. Thank you for your kindness. May you now be granted peace. Sx

— Garbage (@garbage) January 13, 2023

I’m heartbroken over the passing of Lisa Marie Presley.

Lisa did not have an easy life, as some might think.

May she be at peace, resting with her son and father now.

Her mom Priscilla and her three daughters, Riley, Finley, and Harper, are in my prayers. pic.twitter.com/7Sb0DFjbZH

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) January 13, 2023

Sending all our love and prayers to @Cilla_Presley and her family. God bless Lisa Marie.

— Shaun Cassidy (@shaunpcassidy) January 13, 2023

Oh no. This is such horrible news. The entire world is sending love and prayers to Priscilla and Lisa Marie's children right now. May it give you stregnth.

— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) January 13, 2023

Just terrible to hear of the passing of Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child. My deepest condolences to her family. This is awful news and I am so sorry for Priscilla’s loss.

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) January 13, 2023

Rest In Peace, Lisa Marie. A sweet and gentle soul. We send our deepest, heartfelt condolences to Priscilla, Riley and her family and friends. Heartbreakingly sad. ???????? pic.twitter.com/bRxg8tP6Rk

— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) January 13, 2023

Oh no. https://t.co/5XnhYs5akV

— Dr. Love (@questlove) January 13, 2023

Just horrible. https://t.co/BRXJrsP5Lc

— Dr. LALAH HATHAWAY (@lalahhathaway) January 13, 2023

#rip Lisa Marie Presley ????

— Dave Audé (@daveaude) January 13, 2023

So very, very sad. #RIPLisaMarie pic.twitter.com/hvlxIrpPV2

— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) January 13, 2023

Every now and then I find myself wishing very hard that there is a hereafter and tonight is one of those times. Otherwise the nothingness, the emptiness are too hard to bear. ????????????

— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) January 13, 2023

Dear God, #LisaMariePresley has died; I’m in shock. So beautiful and only 54 years old; I can’t actually comprehend it.

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) January 13, 2023

We’re sending all of our love and support to Lisa Marie’s family during this unimaginable time. Rest in peace.

[Images via Adriana M. Barraza/Avalon/MEGA/WENN]

The post Celebs React To Lisa Marie Presley's Sudden Passing appeared first on Perez Hilton.

And actress Leah Remini, a prominent former Scientologist who has spoken extensively about her experiences in the church as a younger woman, appeared to enjoy the reference! Jerrod Carmichael was tasked with hosting the annual awards show’s 80th turn on Tuesday. For it, he delivered a great performance. But along the way, he made one eyebrow-raising joke about Tom Cruise, Scientology leader David Miscavige, and David’s partner Shelly Miscavige, who has not been accounted for publicly in over a decade.

Related: Leah Speaks Out About Kirstie Alley’s Death After Years-Long Feud Over Scientology

The joke in question went down while Carmichael was on stage alone during one segment of the evening’s events. He was awkwardly holding three Golden Globe awards in his hands when the camera cut to him. Speaking directly to the camera as the in-house audience looked on, the comedian cracked:

“I found these three Golden Globe Awards that Tom Cruise returned. Look, I’m just the host, briefly, or whatever, but I have a pitch: I think, maybe, we take these three things and exchange them for the safe return of Shelly Miscavige.”

Whoa!

You can see the joke for yourself (below):

Shelly Miscavige joke #goldenglobes pic.twitter.com/ms4h0ljltg

— Vulture (@vulture) January 11, 2023

It took the audience a minute, but they reacted. They started laughing awkwardly, and then loudly, as Carmichael deadpanned over the crowd.

And those at home took notice, too! Most notably, the King of Queens alum Remini spoke up in support of the comic. She took to Twitter to share her own video clip of the joke and added:

“Thank you Jerrod Carmichael! Where is Shelly??”

Thank you Jerrod Carmichael!

Where is Shelly??#GoldenGlobes2023 #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/Ns81BG7iq0

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) January 11, 2023

And across the social media network, other fans joined in with their comments, as well! Here are just a few of the responses to Remini’s offering of support:

“Loved it! But he may want to take a different route home.”

“Kudos to him for that!!”

“That was ballsy given the audience! Thank u!”

“So awesome!!! More people need to speak out loud!!”

“As soon as I heard him said that, I immediately thought of you!!”

“Finally! It’s been said on live television in front of Hollywood”

“I was GOBSMACKED.”

“That was for u @LeahRemini love it”

Damn!!

As Perezcious readers will recall, Remini has been sounding the alarm on the whereabouts of Shelly for nearly a decade now. The wife of the famed Scientology leader reportedly hasn’t been seen in public in years. Concerned, the former Kevin Can Wait star has been loudly calling out that situation to the world for a while.

Related: Leah Defends Paul Haggis Against Rape Accusation, Says He’s A Victim Of Scientology

Of course, Remini has gone through her own ordeal after leaving Scientology. She abruptly walked away from the church back in 2013. Then she called out church leaders in a string of public statements and her own three-season-long docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which ran through 2019. Ever since, she has continued to demand more accountability to come from behind the church’s doors.

So from her perspective, Carmichael’s comments on national TV during the award show are certainly a big deal. Obviously, fans on Twitter thought so, too. What do U think about it, Perezcious readers??

[Image via Andres Otero/WENN/9NEWS/YouTube]

The post Golden Globes 2023: Leah Remini Reacts To Jerrod Carmichael's Joke About Tom Cruise, Scientology, & Shelly Miscavige! appeared first on Perez Hilton.