Leah Remini, a former Scientologist-turned-outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology, has released a powerful statement regarding the recent sentencing of Danny Masterson.
After being convicted of raping two women back in 2003, the former That '70s Show star was sentenced to 30 years to life behind bars on Thursday.
The Church of Scientology became a central topic in Masterson's initial trial and retrial, since he is a prominent member. All three of Masterson's accusers are also former church members, who claimed in testimonies that church officials discouraged them from going to the police to report the crimes.
Speaking of her experiences of Scientology, one of Masterson's victims - identified as Jane Doe #1 - said in court last year: "My understanding, my entire life, was that you can never be a victim [...] Nothing ever happens to you that you didn’t cause. No matter what condition you find yourself in life, no matter how horrible, you are responsible. You created that."
Representatives for the controversial religious group previously stated to ABC News that there is "no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct" and that their policy "explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land."
Following the sentencing, actress Chrissie Carnell-Bixler - a former Scientologist who had not only appeared on That '70s Show, but also had a relationship with Masterson for six years - also shared a statement mentioning the church.
"Danny Masterson will never harm another woman for as long as he shall live. To all the victims of Scientology, we aren’t finished, yet," Carnell-Bixler wrote in an emotional Instagram post.
Now, King of Queens star and former Scientologist Leah Remini has revealed that she was in the courtroom for Masterson's sentencing, and once again blasted the entire Scientology organization in a scathing statement.
"Sitting in court today with the women who survived Danny Masterson's predation was a surreal experience," Remini began. "Over the past seven decades, former Scientologists have sadly become used to Scientology using its financial resources, religious protection, and relationships to snatch justice away from them."
Masterson's sentencing has been highly publicized, especially following character references from Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis that led to fan backlash. But Remini, in her impassioned statement, turns the spotlight on the deeper, systemic issue: "For over two decades, Danny Masterson avoided accountability for his crimes. While Danny was the only one sentenced, his conviction and sentence are indictments against Scientology, its operatives, and its criminal leader, David Miscavige."
Pulling no punches, Remini accused Scientology of covering up Masterson's crimes with the aid of its "intelligence agency," the Office of Special Affairs, and various other officials and agents. "Scientology managed to cover up Danny's crimes with the help of its intelligence agency, the Office of Special Affairs, top 'church' officials like Kirsten Caetano Pedersen and Julian Swartz, its network of media-hungry unethical attorneys, private investigators, agents, and civilian Scientologists who engaged in a conspiracy to cover up crimes of sexual violence."
Remini's fervent words don't stop there. She expresses her relief that Masterson will be behind bars and praised the bravery of the survivors: "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."
She also took a moment to acknowledge the hard work of the legal system. "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."
"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," Remini continued, "but they have also faced ruthless and criminal harassment by Scientology and its agents since they came forward to law enforcement."
And in a subsequent interview with CNN, Remini claimed that The Church of Scientology "should have been a co-defendant in this case".
Remini has long been one of Scientology's most vocal critics since leaving the group in 2013. Her scathing critiques extend from her 2016 memoir to her impactful television series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.
In response to Masterson's sentencing, The Church of Scientology shared a statement with Us Weekly, in which it vehemently argues that the proceedings against Masterson were tainted by the discussion of religion. "The prosecution’s introduction of religion into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and affects the due process rights of every American," the statement declared.
Taking aim at the accusers, the statement continued: "There is not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers [...] Every single instance of supposed harassment by the Church is FALSE, and has been debunked."
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