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Leah Remini has broken her silence on the passing of Mike Rinder, a former Scientology executive turned whistleblower who played a pivotal role in exposing the inner workings of the controversial organization.
Mike Rinder, who earned an Emmy for his courageous work alongside Leah Remini, recently passed away after a battle with esophageal cancer.
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Leah Remini Speaks Out On Mike Rinder's Passing
MEGARemini and Rinder were close collaborators, co-hosting the groundbreaking A&E docuseries "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" and the podcast "Fair Game." Together, they brought to light countless stories of alleged abuse, manipulation, and trauma within the Church of Scientology.
In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Tuesday, Remini called Rinder her "trusted partner" and revealed the profound impact he had on her life.
"On Sunday, we lost a giant, and I lost a man who was more than a friend—he was family," she wrote. "It’s impossible to imagine the last 13 years of my life without Mike Rinder. He was my anchor, my trusted partner, and my closest confidant. It’s impossible to imagine the last 13 years of my life without Mike Rinder."
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The actress added, "He was my trusted partner and my closest confidant. When I left Scientology, Mike was one of the first people I turned to. From that moment, he became my lifeline. Together, we embarked on an incredible journey that included The Aftermath and our podcast, Fair Game. But Mike was so much more than my partner in this fight—he was my brother, my father, and my best friend."
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Leah Remini Says Mike Rinder Saved Her Life
She continued:
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"Mike saved my life and the life of my daughter, and he stood by me through battles that felt insurmountable. I haven’t come to terms with the reality that I can’t call him and hear his voice anymore. I am shattered in ways I never thought possible. I have cried endlessly and can’t seem to move from my bed since coming home.
In his post-Scientology life, Mike was a man transformed. He worked tirelessly to right the wrongs of his past. There was not one call Mike didn’t take; there was not one person Mike didn’t try to help, despite the many heartbreaks he endured from those who needed him. Mike also became an amazing husband and an attentive, loving dad to Jack and his stepson Shane. One of the many heartbreaks Mike suffered was the absence of his older kids who disconnected from him due to Scientology’s cruel policies after he courageously escaped its abuse. Mike adored Jack, who is just 12."
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Journalist and Scientology expert Tony Ortega revealed in June 2023 that Rinder had been diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer. On Sunday, Ortega shared on X, the social media platform formely known as Twitter, "Mike Rinder sent us an email today, to let us know that he had shuffled off this mortal coil. That was so like him, thoughtful to the end. We’re just coming to grips with this news."
Leah Remini Asks The Public To Contribute To Mike's Son's College Fund
MEGAThe "King Of Queens" actress didn't stop there. She then asked her fans and followers to "join me in contributing to Jack’s college fund, ensuring Mike’s dreams for his son can still come true."
"Please keep Mike’s wife, Christie, Jack, and Mike’s stepson Shane in your thoughts and prayers," she added. "They’ve lost a husband and dad whose love knew no bounds, and I’ve lost someone whose presence in my life was irreplaceable."
Remini then concluded, "Mikey, I will miss you every day, and I just don’t know how to do it without you."
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Rinder and Remini began their collaboration in 2016 with "Scientology and the Aftermath," an investigative docuseries that ran for three seasons and aired 37 episodes. Rinder eventually became an executive producer for the series' final season and a two-hour special in 2019. Their partnership extended to the "Fair Game "podcast, where they continued their mission to expose the alleged wrongdoings of Scientology.
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