Leah Remini Shares Emotional Tribute To Mike Rinder, Her ‘Scientology And The Aftermath’ Co-Host: “We Lost A Giant”

Leah Remini is remembering her Scientology and the Aftermath co-host Mike Rinder with an emotional tribute. Rinder died Jan. 5 at the age of 69.

“On Sunday, we lost a giant, and I lost a man who was more than a friend—he was my family,” Remini wrote in a statement on social media. “It’s impossible to imagine the last 13 years of my life without Mike Rinder. He was my anchor, my trusted partner, and my closest confidant. The thought of moving forward without him feels unbearable.”

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Remini and Rinder teamed on Scientology and the Aftermath, which ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2019. Rinder was nominated for two Emmys for his work, winning one.

“When I left Scientology, Mike was one of the first people I turned to. From that moment, he became my lifeline,” she continued. “Together, we embarked on an incredible journey that included The Aftermath and our podcast, Fair Game. But Mike was so much more than my partner in this fight—he was my brother, my father, my best friend… in every way that mattered.”

Remini said Mike “stood by me through battles that felt insurmountable, giving me strength when I had none left. I owe him a debt I could never repay.”

She continued, “I haven’t yet come to terms with the reality that I can’t call him, text him, or hear his voice anymore. I am shattered in ways I never thought possible, overwhelmed by the weight of this loss. I have cried endlessly and can’t seem to move from my bed since coming home from being with him and his grieving family.”

Remini promises she’ll “have so much more to say about Mike and the legacy he leaves behind,” but for now she wants to encourage others to honor his memory by supporting his son Jack’s college fund.

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Rinder was born in Australia in 1955 and grew up as a Scientologist from early childhood. In 2007, he made headlines with a high-profile defection from the organization, renouncing the Church and becoming one of its most outspoken detractors.

He was prominently featured in the 2015 HBO documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief along with Oscar-winning Crash director Paul Haggis. Prior to his departure, Rinder was the head of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs, as well as a member of its board of directors.

After Scientology and the Aftermath ended its run, Rinder and Remini continued their co-hosting partnership by launching the podcast Scientology: Fair Game, which ran through 2022. That same year, Rinder also released the memoir A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology.

While no cause of death was listed, Rinder was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer in June 2023. However, in October of that year, the producer said he was deemed cancer-free.

You can read Remini’s full statement below.

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“On Sunday, we lost a giant, and I lost a man who was more than a friend—he was my family. It’s impossible to imagine the last 13 years of my life without Mike Rinder. He was my anchor, my trusted partner, and my closest confidant. The thought of moving forward without him feels unbearable.

“When I left Scientology, Mike was one of the first people I turned to. From that moment, he became my lifeline. Together, we embarked on an incredible journey that included The Aftermath and our podcast, Fair Game. But Mike was so much more than my partner in this fight—he was my brother, my father, my best friend… in every way that mattered.

“Mike saved my life and the life of my daughter. He stood by me through battles that felt insurmountable, giving me strength when I had none left. I owe him a debt I could never repay. I haven’t yet come to terms with the reality that I can’t call him, text him, or hear his voice anymore. I am shattered in ways I never thought possible, overwhelmed by the weight of this loss. I have cried endlessly and can’t seem to move from my bed since coming home from being with him and his grieving family.

“I’ll have so much more to say about Mike and the legacy he leaves behind—words that will attempt to honor his immeasurable contribution to this world, to my life, and to the lives of countless others. But for now, I want to honor his memory by fulfilling one of his last wishes: encouraging support for his son Jack’s college fund.

“In his post-Scientology life, Mike was a man transformed. He worked tirelessly to right the wrongs of his past and beyond. He owed no one anything. Mike was offered a lot of money to stay silent about Scientology’s criminal activities, and he refused and did the work.

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“There was not one call that Mike didn’t take, not one person Mike didn’t try to help, despite the many heartbreaks he endured from those who needed him. Mike also became an incredible husband and an attentive, loving father to Jack and his stepson Shane.

“One of the many heartbreaks Mike suffered was the absence of his older children, Taryn and Benjamin, who disconnected from him due to Scientology’s cruel policies after he courageously escaped its abuse.

“Mike adored Jack, who is just 12 years old. He was consumed with knowing he wouldn’t be there to see Jack grow into adulthood. If you’re able, I hope you’ll join me in contributing to Jack’s college fund, ensuring that Mike’s dreams for his son can still come true.

“Please keep Mike’s brave and devoted wife, Christie, their son Jack, and Mike’s stepson Shane in your thoughts and prayers. They’ve lost a husband and father whose love knew no bounds, and I’ve lost someone whose presence in my life was irreplaceable.

“My Mikey, I will miss you every day, and I just don’t know how to do it without you.”

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