9 Celebs Who Have Publicly Left Scientology

Celebrity By TooFab Staff | 8/17/2021 11:49 AM PT

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After being members of Scientology for years, these stars made very public breaks with the organization.

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Singer Joy Villa revealed in 2026 that she quit Scientology after 15 years, saying the organization "took credit for all of" her success. In an essay for Evie, she said her accomplishments were "attributed not to God, not to talent, not to perseverance, but to auditing, donations and loyalty to the organization," saying her "success became propaganda. My life became marketing. What no one saw was the cost." The cost, she said, was nearly $2 million in donations over the years. In response, a rep for the church accused Villa of seeking "to exploit those who supported her during her darkest moments in hopes of making a buck. How un-Christian. We urge Ms. Villa to move forward with her life and cease these false claims."

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"Orange is the New Black" star Laura Prepon announced in 2021 that she has not been a member of the Church of Scientology in five years. "I'm no longer practicing Scientology," she told PEOPLE. "I've always been very open-minded, even since I was a child. I was raised Catholic and Jewish. I've prayed in churches, meditated in temples. I've studied Chinese meridian theory. I haven't practiced Scientology in close to five years and it's no longer part of my life."

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In 2008, Jeffrey Tambor opened up about leaving Scientology. "I took some Scientology classes at one time, studied Scientology for a while, but no more. I have nothing against it, but I am no longer a Scientologist." he said.

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Jason Beghe shared an outspoken YouTube video against the church in 2008. "If Scientology is real, then something’s f***ed up. It ain’t delivering what it’s promised," he said in the video. “The entire Scientology mythology is that if you leave the church you go on to fail,” he told Village Voice years later. He also spoke out in depth in the Going Clear documentary.

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In 2005, Beck told the Irish Sunday Tribune, "Yeah, I’m a Scientologist. My father has been a Scientologist for about 35 years, so I grew up in and around it and stuff." Over a decade later, however, he told The Sydney Morning Herald, “I think there’s a misconception that I am a Scientologist. I’m not a Scientologist. I don’t have any connection or affiliation with it."

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"My Name is Earl" star Jason Lee announced in 2016 after moving to Texas that he and his wife were no longer practicing Scientologists. "And being that we don't practice Scientology, and that we aren't particularly interested in opening religious centers in general, we have no plans to open a Scientology center," he told the local paper.

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In 2012, Lisa Marie Presley told USA Today that she had left the religion. "I got bad advice. I was insulated with no grip on reality," she said. "They were taking my soul, my money, my everything."

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Leah Remini has become the face of leaving Scientology since her departure in 2013. She published a book, "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," as well as starred in an A&E docuseries, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath."

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Director Paul Haggis was a member of the church for three decades before splitting in 2008.

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9 Celebs Who Have Publicly Left Scientology

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