Leah Remini has shared an emotional and heartfelt tribute to her “closest confidant” Mike Rinder, following his demise over the weekend.

“On Sunday, we misplaced an enormous, and I misplaced a person who was greater than a buddy – he was household,” she wrote about her buddy and co-worker, who had joined her on a multi-year, multi-platform endeavour to reveal alleged abuses by the Church of Scientology.

“It’s unimaginable to think about the final 13 years of my life with out Mike Rinder,” Remini mentioned. “After I left Scientology, Mike was one of many first individuals I turned to.”

“Collectively, we launched into an unimaginable journey that included The Aftermath and our podcast, Honest Sport,” Remini continued. “However Mike was a lot greater than my associate on this battle – he was my brother, my father, and my greatest buddy.”

Rinder and Remini teamed up after each leaving Scientology, collaborating on the A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath and the podcast Honest Sport.

“Mike saved my life and the lifetime of my daughter and he stood by me via battles that felt insurmountable,” she wrote.

“I haven’t come to phrases with the fact that I can’t name him and listen to his voice anymore. I’m shattered in methods I by no means thought doable. I’ve cried endlessly and may’t appear to maneuver from my mattress since coming residence.”

Rinder’s spouse, Christie Collbran, introduced his demise on Sunday, Jan. 5, by way of Instagram. Rinder was 69, and whereas his reason behind demise has not been confirmed, he had been identified with superior esophageal most cancers in 2023.

Earlier than Rinder left the Church of Scientology in 2007 and have become one of many loudest whistleblowers, pulling again the curtain on its interior workings, he served in varied govt roles inside the church, together with the worldwide spokesperson, head of the Workplace of Particular Affairs and a member of the board of administrators of the Church of Scientology Worldwide.

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After leaving Scientology behind on the age of 52, he grew to become a critic of the group.

After Rinder launched his memoir, A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life within the Highest Ranks of Scientology, in 2022, the Church of Scientology hit again, denying all of the allegations he’s made through the years.

Remini beforehand shared that she was capable of spend a while with Rinder and his household over the Christmas holidays.

“Spreading slightly vacation cheer in Florida with my @rindermike and his lovely household,” she captioned a photograph of her and Rinder embracing in his mattress. “As a lot of , Mike has been courageously battling most cancers, and your messages of affection actually raise his spirits. Please maintain Mike, Christie, and their two boys in your prayers. Encompass them with all of the love and power they so deserve.”

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