John Travolta dismisses new Scientology documentary by former member Leah Remini

The actor defends the church and says it was a source of support for him when he lost his girlfriend, mother and son

He said while he was 'kind of' surprised Remini had decided to do the documentary, he wished her no ill feelings (Getty Images)

Longtime Scientologist John Travolta has dismissed Leah Remini’s new documentary series about the religion and insisted he is “not interested” in watching it.

Remini was a committed member of the church for more than 30 years before announcing she was leaving in 2013. Since then she has become a vocal critic of the Church of Scientology, releasing a memoir titled Troublemaker last year and appearing in a number of interviews.

Travolta, who has been a practitioner of Scientology since 1975, said he had not watched any of the episodes and he is uninterested in learning what Remini or other former members of the church have to say.

The actor said the church had helped him for four decades and been a source of support when he lost his girlfriend, mother, and his son.

“It's been nothing but helpful to me for 40 years, through all my losses of my mother, my girlfriend, my son,” he told E! News. “They never left my side, so why would I want buy into something that's not what I feel?”

He said while he was “kind of” surprised Remini had decided to do the documentary, he wished her no ill feelings.

“As long as I get to still do it and my family gets to do it. I’m happy,” he said.

At the end of last month, Remini said she did not expect to hear from Travolta or Tom Cruise, another prominent member in the Church of Scientology, regarding the television show.

“They will not reach out to me. They are not allowed to reach out to me. John Travolta, by the way, is one of the nicest, sweetest people you're ever going to meet,” Remini, whose new series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath premiered at the end of last month, said.

Remini, who is known for her roles in The King of Queens, became a member of the Church of Scientology when she was introduced by her mother at a young age.

The Church has dismissed Remini’s allegations regarding the church in a statement on Scientology newsroom - the official media resource center for the church. A Scientology spokesperson criticised her “revisionist history” and denounced her as a “bitter former member” and a “professional anti-Scientologist”.

Scientology was established by the science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard in 1953. The Church believes in immortality through reincarnation.