Leah Remini Sets The Record Straight With Her Thoughts On Lisa Marie's Death
Among those in Hollywood mourning the tragic death of Lisa Marie Presley, actor Leah Remini's reaction to the sad news certainly stands out.
Presley and Remini were once close friends and shared a connection to the Church of Scientology. As Page Six claimed, the two stars fell out amid Remini's departure from Scientology in 2013, which resulted in the high-profile "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" documentary. "Leah tried to convince Lisa to leave Scientology and join her in trying to bring the church down," an unnamed insider told the outlet in 2017, noting the ruckus Remini's campaign against Scientology caused in Presley's personal life. "She felt she was being manipulated ... Lisa Marie freaked out and wants nothing to do with Leah." However, Presley left Scientology in 2014, according to multiple reports, and her rep gave a statement to Page Six denying beef with Remini.
After the news broke on January 12 that Presley had died after being admitted to the hospital for cardiac arrest, per TMZ, fans flocked to social media to offer their condolences. As Hollywood stars posted their tributes, Remini chimed in, seemingly clearing the air after their feud.
Leah Remini shares her sadness over Lisa Marie Presley's death
Despite their history, Leah Remini voiced a heartfelt reaction to her former friend Lisa Marie Presley's death. "I'm heartbroken over the passing of Lisa Marie Presley," Remini penned on Twitter, also hinting at the late star's known struggles. "Lisa did not have an easy life, as some might think. May she be at peace, resting with her son and father now."
Remini's line was a reference to Lisa Marie's famous father Elvis Presley, and her son Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in 2020, as reported by TMZ. After Keough's death, Lisa Marie carried great pain with her, as she voiced on Instagram two years after her son's tragic death she would "forever be mourning" her loss. "Navigating through this hideous grief that absolutely destroyed and shattered my heart and my soul into almost nothing has swallowed me whole," she shared.
Whatever may have happened between them, Remini seemed to have kept a soft spot for Lisa Marie, the devastating tragedies she went through, and her family. "Her mom Priscilla and her three daughters, Riley, Finley, and Harper, are in my prayers," Remini tweeted.
Leah Remini reached out to Lisa Marie Presley after her son's death
Leah Remini opened up a little more about her relationship with Lisa Marie Presley back in July 2020 while speaking to on her podcast, "Scientology: Fair Game." She claimed she reached out to Lisa Marie after hearing about Benjamin Keough's tragic death, but never heard back from her former friend. Remini wasn't done there when it came to dishing on Presley, though. The former "King of Queens" star also claimed one of the big reasons she decided to leave the church was because of Lisa Marie's influence, but suggested their relationship broke down around the time they left the religion behind, while she seemingly accused Lisa Marie of not wanting to take responsibility for being associated with the church.
As for how Presley could have influenced Remini to leave the church, there is speculation her 2012 single, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," threw daggers at the organization, as the Village Voice noted. However, if Presley didn't truly leave until 2014, it could explain why Remini's outspoken departure in 2013 potentially made her uncomfortable and caused a rift. Of course, we'll never know the full story now.
Remini mentioned her former friend once again on Twitter in November 2022, mere months before Lisa Marie died, as she discussed the Danny Masterson trial. Sadly, it seemed as though the two never buried the hatchet before Lisa Marie's untimely death.
Leah Remini and Lisa Marie Presley were both devoted to their families
Although Leah Remini and Lisa Marie Presley's friendship never got back on track, they seemed to be on the same page when it came to Scientology. After HBO aired the documentary "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief," Remini voiced her support of the exposé. "Thank you to the brave who did something about it. And to those who didn't have a voice, you do now," she tweeted. Presley also tweeted, "Sometimes ... The S##t hitting the fan is a damn nice sound," (via Hollywood Life).
Remini had previously shared in 2014 that her reason for leaving Scientology was because of her daughter. "In my house, it's family first — but I was spending most of my time at the church. So, I was saying 'family first,' but I wasn't showing that. I didn't like the message that sent my daughter," she revealed, per People. Presley also showed the same devotion to her children, and told Healthy Living Magazine in 2014, "We all stay together. We are all very close. Wherever I am, they have their rooms and live with me." She added that she was "ferociously protective" of her kids and that they were her priority.
The singer leaves behind her daughters Riley, Harper, and Finley, per Page Six. Presley may not have mended her friendship with Remini before her tragic death, but their love for their families ultimately created an unspoken bond.