The father of Scientology leader David Miscavige has written a book after his exit from the Church, and will sit down with ABC’s Dan Harris for a “20/20” interview on Friday.
Ron Miscavige penned the book, “Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me,” a memoir about his time in the Church. Scientology is hitting back hard, calling his claims “outright lies,” but former Scientology member Leah Remini stepped in to defend Miscavige.
“He has a right to tell his story,” the actress told ABC in a sneak peek for the special. “I tracked him down, I called him, I offered my support because I know he must have felt alone. I just wanted him to know that we were willing to take him in.”
Remini, who has not been shy about her criticism of the new-age religion since leaving the Church in 2013, added, “There is no place for them to go unless they have family, which is very rare outside the Church. I immediately said he should write a book because his story is important.”
Miscavige will sit down with Harris on Friday night at 10 p.m. to talk about his son’s journey throughout the Church of Scientology, which started when the family joined in 1970. Miscavige was part of the Church for more than 40 years, 27 of which were spent working for its Sea Organization.
“He wasn’t always that way,” Ron Miscavige said of David. “When he was kid, he was a lovable kid.”
Miscavige announced plans to write the book last July, and the younger Miscavige is threatening a defamation lawsuit against his own father should the book be published, according to Mediaite.
“My plans for the book haven’t changed at all,” said the father.
Watch a sneak peek of the ABC interview above.
