Why Jennifer Lopez Refused to Join Scientology, According to Leah Remini

Leah Remini and Jennifer Lopez have been good friends for many years. In the beginning of their friendship Remini was still a Scientologist and then she left. Remini revealed why Lopez refused to join and how she helped her after she left. Here is everything you need to know.

Leah Remini said Jennifer Lopez refused because she doesn’t agree with Scientology’s disconnection policy

Leah Remini revealed that her good friend was approached to join Scientology, but refused on her own. Remini made clear that she didn’t have to say anything to the singer making that decision.

“I didn’t save her from anything,” Remini told Daily Beast. “Jennifer is a very strong-minded female, and is a seeker of spirituality. She’s Catholic—always has been—and her father is a very indoctrinated Scientologist, and has been for quite a long time. He’s achieved the confidential levels of Scientology. But Jennifer makes her own decisions.”

She continued with “Yes, I did [run interference], but she disagreed with the disconnection policy, so she wasn’t going to submit to any pressures from anybody regardless, and she was a really good friend to me through all that.”

The disconnection policy is people who leave Scientology are reportedly labeled “Suppressive Persons” and those still in the organization can no longer be in contact with them.

Lopez was a shoulder Remini could lean on once she left Scientology. She revealed what her good friend said to her at the time. Remini told Access Hollywood “[Lopez] said, ‘You know Leah, you don’t have to give everything up. It’s okay to look at it as something there were things about it that were helpful and just leave the rest. So don’t throw it all away or think your life is wasted.'”

Although Lopez was there for her, there were many who distanced themselves from her after she left. Leah Remini revealed what Scientologists now do when they see her.

Remini said Scientologists literally run from her now

There are some celebrities who are Scientologists so it’s very possible Remini would still be in the same room as some. She revealed on Watch What Happens Live what they tend to do when they see her.

She said they “literally run away.” She continued with “And it’s really sad to watch it, you know, because it’s like I really don’t mean them any harm, but I know how they feel. I remember how I felt when I saw people who I was taught and brainwashed into believing were the devil, and so it’s sad to see them react to me that way where I’m like, ‘I’m me. I don’t mean you any harm. I want you to do well in life, I promise you,'”

The actress revealed one kind of situation that is very awkward for her. “Especially when you’re at a celebrity house party, and someone literally runs out of the room,” said Remini. “You know, your first reaction when you see a friend or somebody you knew is to go, ‘Hey!’ You know what I mean? And they literally run away like you’re a pimp or something. It’s very odd.”

So Lopez decided not to join because of the disconnection policy then supported Remini once she left the organization.

Read more: ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’: Leah Remini Claims Tom Cruise Isn’t a Good Person and More

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!