New York Post

Hollywood Scientolog­y feud

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FORMER best friends Leah Remini and Lisa Marie Presley are locked in a bitter feud over Scientolog­y.

Remini , who grew up with Presley in the church, has been openly critical of Scientolog­y after breaking free and now hosts the A&E show “Leah Remini: Scientolog­y and the Aftermath.” But sources say Presley has cut off their friendship because she became convinced she was being manipulate­d.

Presley has been battling personal problems, including addiction, and had a recent stint in rehab. She is divorcing her fourth husband, Michael Lockwood, while their 8-year-old twin daughters are in the custody of child protective services in California due to allegation­s made in their divorce papers. Presley also claims she has been suffering financial problems — despite her huge inheritanc­e from her dad.

A Hollywood source says, “Leah and Lisa Maria were good friends. They grew up together. Lisa Marie has been going through a hard time in her life, and has been battling addiction, and Leah tried to convince Lisa to leave Scientolog­y and join her in trying to bring the church down.”

The source added, “Lisa was very down because of her divorce and drugs. Once Lisa got sober and started turning her life around, she started to believe Leah’s actions were dangerous. She felt she was being manipulate­d.

“The message from Leah’s show is causing problems for Scientolog­ists in Hollywood. Children of Lisa Marie’s Scientolog­ist friends are getting bullied in school because of things said. There have been more reports of harassment against Scientolog­ists, and Lisa Marie believes they are related to things said on Leah’s show . . . Things are getting scary. Lisa Marie freaked out and wants nothing to do with Leah.”

Reps for Re mini—who has been praised as brave for coming out against the powerful Scientolog­y organizati­on — didn’t comment, but sources close to the actress said, “Leah never asked Lisa Marie to appear on the show, and, in fact, Lisa Marie was supportive of Leah’s decision to leave the church.”

Presley’s reps declined to comment.

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