Leah Remini Reveals She Left Scientology For Her Daughter

Leah Remini made an appearance with BFF Jennifer Lopez last night at an American Idol bash, and she's also making the news today after her chat with BuzzFeed, which details why she left the Church of Scientology.

Though the actress cites "dozens of influencing factors," it was ultimately wanting to spend more time with her family that made her pull the plug. Her 9-year-old daughter Sofia approached the age when auditing was required for acclimation into the church, and Leah says, "In my house, it's family first – but I was spending most of my time at the church. So, I was saying 'family first,' but I wasn't showing that. I didn't like the message that sent my daughter."

Remini added that she grew up "resenting" her own mother for spending so much time at the church. "We went from a middle-class lifestyle [in Brooklyn] to living in a roach-infested motel with six other girls off a freeway in Clearwater." Still, Remini insists that the two are closer than ever now, but that wasn't the case with some of her pals in the church.

"Before, I would be going to the church right after lunch. There's no going to dinner with friends and having a glass of wine – I never did that in my adult life," she says. "It was so crazy to me because you can't get counseling the next day at the church if you've had a drink, so most Scientologists don't drink." No wonder she hit the town with J. Lo last night!

And speaking of that, Remini says her longtime pal has been a strong supporter through the tough times. "Jennifer made special rings for all the women in her life that say, 'I Love Me,' " she said. "I've really come to realize you have to love yourself before you can expect someone else to. You have to learn to believe you deserve love. And I'm getting there. I'm starting to believe it."