A Bond Forged in Shared Experience, A Loss Deeply Felt
Remembering a Cherished Friend and Collaborator
More than a year following the demise of her comrade in the fight against Scientology, the former church official and Emmy-winning co-host of Scientology and the Aftermath, Mike Rinder, actress and ex-Scientologist Leah Remini, has spoken candidly about the sorrow of navigating life without her long-time companion.
The Unfading Ache of Absence
"I wish I could claim it's becoming somewhat simpler. It isn't," Remini conveyed on Friday in a heartfelt, extended Instagram tribute, marking what would have been Rinder's 71st birthday. She continued, "His loss has left an enduring, subtle ache that persists. And I believe a part of it is this… certain individuals enter your life and make you feel truly acknowledged. Not scrutinized, not manipulated, not conditional – simply understood and cherished for who you are entirely. That was Mike for me."
A Partnership Against Alleged Abuses
Rinder departed this life in January 2025, subsequent to his June 2023 diagnosis with advanced esophageal cancer. Together, he and Remini co-created three seasons of their acclaimed docuseries, which delved into accounts from former Scientology adherents regarding alleged mistreatment within the organization.
Friendship Beyond Conditions
Both Rinder and Remini distanced themselves from the religion and subsequently voiced their opposition. Remini noted in her homage to Rinder that, "Where we originated from, companionship was contingent on something — your status, your compliance, your silence. Consequently, when you discover someone who cherishes you devoid of any such conditions, it's effortless to recognize the extraordinary nature of that connection."
A Guiding Light Through Trauma
She credits him for aiding her in her journey to "recover and mature" after her exit from the faith in 2013. Remini highlighted Rinder's "immense body of work" as a testament to his legacy through the Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation, and also lauded his "wonderful family," with whom she also became close during their friendship, and who, she mentioned, are also navigating a "painfully empty void where Mike once was."
An Irreparable Void
Soon after Rinder's passing, Remini honored him with a statement, recalling how he assisted her in conquering what she described as her past trauma stemming from her time in the religion. Remini consistently acknowledged Rinder's role in helping her adapt to life post-Scientology, both within and beyond Aftermath, which premiered in 2016 and concluded in 2019. "Mike salvaged my life and my daughter's life. He stood by me through seemingly insurmountable conflicts, providing strength when I had none remaining. I owe him a debt I can never repay," Remini articulated at the time. "I have yet to come to terms with the reality that I can no longer contact him, message him, or hear his voice. I am profoundly broken in ways I never imagined, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this loss. I have wept endlessly and appear unable to leave my bed since returning home after being with him and his grieving kin."
A Journey from Executive to Advocate
Rinder disassociated himself from Scientology in 2007, having ascended to an executive leadership position within Scientology's Office of Special Affairs.
