Leah Remini Celebrates 'Surreal' Danny Masterson Sentencing As Win Against Scientology

Danny Masterson has been handed a 30-year sentence on Thursday, after being found guilty of raping two women. While his wife, Bijou Phillips looked devastated, Leah Remini found it to be a very a surreal experience.

Leah Remini is in for the long haul when it comes to the fight against Scientology. Given that for years, Danny Masterson was able to evade culpability for his actions, Remini believes that the Church of Scientology is as much to blame as Masterson himself.

Masterson, a member of the Church of Scientology, starred in the hit sitcom "That '70s Show," which ran from 1998 to 2006. He was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2017, which the LAPD investigated. At the time, he was also starring in the Netflix sitcom "The Ranch" along with fellow "That '70s Show" alum Ashton Kutcher. Following the allegations, he was written off the show. In June 2020 he was charged with raping three women, including his former girlfriend, in his Hollywood Hills home almost two decades ago. The three women had all met Masterson through the Church of Scientology.

Three months after Masterson was found guilty of two counts of rape, the 47-year-old received a 30-year sentence from the Los Angeles Superior Court. Masterson remained stoic for his sentencing, blowing his wife Bijou Phillips a kiss before he was led away, while she remained silent.

Remini was present for the sentencing and in a statement shared on social media, said, "Sitting in court today with the women who survived Danny Masterson’s predation was a surreal experience. Over the past seven decades, former Scientologists have sadly become used to Scientology using its financial resources, religious protection, and relationships to snatch justice away from them."

The "King of Queens" actress is also suing the Church of Scientology, and she explained her stance in a formal statement.

Remini felt relieved that Masterson would now be in prison as she continued, "I am relieved that this dangerous rapist will be off the streets and unable to violently assault and rape women with the help of Scientology, a multi-billion-dollar criminal organization with tax-exempt status."

She also came down heavily on the leader of the Scientology church, David Miscavige, writing, "For over two decades, Danny Masterson avoided accountability for his crimes. While Danny was the only one sentenced, his conviction and sentence are indictments against Scientology, its operatives, and its criminal leader, David Miscavige."

Remini applauded the bravery of the survivors who had to be in court to face Masterson, and other members of the church of Scientology who terrorized them and pressured them not to go to the authorities. The 53-year-old actress further wrote, "These women not only faced the living hell of being raped, having their rapes covered up by the very organization that promised to protect them, but they have also faced ruthless and criminal harassment by Scientology and its agents since they came forward to law enforcement."

Here's the full statement:

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), a non-profit organization that works with sexual abuse and assault survivors also released a statement.

Said Scott Berkowitz, RAINN president and founder, “The victim-impact statements were incredibly powerful and we applaud the strong sentence handed down by Judge Olmedo. We are hopeful that today’s sentence sends a message that justice is possible and that our system can hold perpetrators, including those who are powerful in Hollywood, accountable.

People also spoke up on social media, commenting, "I’ll never understand how savagery like rape can be covered up by any organization that calls itself a church."

Another lauded Leah Remini, writing, "We wouldn’t fully understand the Scientology empire if it hadn’t been for you. Blowing the lid off of the workings of Scientology helped put this guy away."

Meanwhile, RAINN offers more support, as Berkowitz said, "To anyone following coverage of these cases and looking for support, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is ready with free, confidential, and 24/7 support at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and online.RAINN.org."