A&E has been dealing with a lot of contention this holiday season. First and foremost, the network eventually cancelled its KKK-based docuseries following allegations that people were paid to appear on the show. The drama at the network hasn't ended there, however, as now the Church of Scientology is taking shots at A&E, calling the network hypocrites for the sole reason that the channel hasn't also cancelled the Leah Remini documentary series, as well.
The Church of Scientology sent out a letter to A&E, per TMZ, that notes that because former Scientologists Leah Remini and Mike Render are producers on Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath and have been paid for their work on the series, A&E is being hypocritical by also not cancelling the show. Here's a more specific section of the letter from the Church of Scientology:
A&E has applied its policies and practices in an invidious and discriminatory manner. We can think of no justification for A&E's hypocrisy. It is hypocritical for A&E to proclaim its intent to 'expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms' in cancelling the KKK show and at the same time promote Leah Remini's program which promotes the hatred that A&E claims that it wants to stop.
The Church is arguing that because they have received some hate mail and hate Internet postings---hashtags are mentioned, so we're assuming Twitter or Instagram may be involved--following the premiere of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, that there is no place for the series on the air. The Church is blatantly stating that it would be judicious for A&E to cancel Remini's series, as well.
A&E has already stated that the payment circumstances are different because Leah Remini is a producer on her own series. In addition, the network says that Remini is not part of a hate group, which makes the payment issue a non-starter for the cabler. Although A&E has not said this, the network was also in a huge pickle regarding Generation KKK before the network eventually backtracked and cancelled the series. People didn't like the name and they didn't like the premise of the documentary series. When the monetary issues came out, we're guessing it was simply the last straw for that series.
Besides, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is unlikely to go anywhere. The docuseries has been a big success on A&E during its Tuesday night timeslot. In addition, only eight episodes have been produced and five have already aired. Leah Remini has welcomed Scientology to sue her show if it is inaccurate, but she has seemed confident that the Church of Scientology does not have a leg to stand on.
Prior to this message getting sent to A&E, Scientology had createda website devoted to attacking Leah Remini's show. If you'd like to get Leah Remini's side of the story, you can watch Scientology and the Aftermath on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET, only on A&E. In addition, here's what else is heading to TV at midseason.
