On Monday, Remini posted a lengthy message on X criticizing the station for what she called a “propaganda advertisement.” She said she was shocked when she realized the program was not regular programming, but a paid segment promoting Scientology.
According to Remini, Scientology has long purchased short TV ads, which she strongly opposes. However, she said allowing the group to buy a full half-hour of airtime is far more dangerous.
She warned that viewers unfamiliar with Scientology could easily assume the program was created or endorsed by NBC4, potentially leading them to trust the message and become involved with the organization.
Remini said the segment focused on Dianetics, a book written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. She described the book as pseudoscience and said it falsely presents itself as a mental-health guide, while actually serving as an entry point into Scientology.
She also accused the organization of being harmful to its members and families, writing that neither Dianetics nor Scientology is supported by science or respected by mental-health professionals.
Calling NBC4’s decision “deeply alarming,” Remini urged her followers to contact NBC4 Los Angeles and demand the station stop selling extended airtime to Scientology in the future.
A spokesperson for Church of Scientology International, David Bloomberg, confirmed the segment was intentional. He said it was part of a campaign marking the 75th anniversary of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and claimed the response has been positive.
Bloomberg also pushed back against Remini’s comments, calling them false and “anti-American,” and defended the organization’s right to free speech.
Remini left the Church of Scientology in 2013 and has since become one of its most outspoken critics. The former King of Queens star detailed her experience in her memoir Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology and later starred in the A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.
The series ran for three seasons and featured stories from former Scientology members who said they were harassed after leaving the church. It won two Emmy Awards and helped bring mainstream attention to allegations against the organization.
Remini also co-hosted the podcast Scientology: Fair Game with former Scientology executive Mike Rinder, who died earlier this month at age 69. In an emotional tribute, Remini described Rinder as her closest partner and a guiding force after she left Scientology.
Despite continued pushback from the church, Remini says she remains committed to speaking out — and believes media outlets must take responsibility for what they allow on the air.
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