Former Friend Recalls Leah Remini’s “Wrath” and Putting People Down

TRANSCRIPT:

I knew Leah when she was in her late teens and she definitely was the show, the comedian, at all times. But she also was a comedian in a way that was like a put-down humor.

And I did see people’s feelings get hurt, and including my own, and I think that was her—she used to say that was her shtick, of putting people down, and it’s supposed to be funny.

This one time I was at one of her shows in the audience and a lady tripped and fell and when Leah heard about it, she went, “Oh my gosh, that’s hilarious. I wish I could have seen it.”

Leah attacked quite a bit when it was something where she felt uncomfortable or she felt it might have been her fault. Her way of thinking would be to attack.

One time I was set up to come for an appointment to work with her child. When I got there, they weren’t there. So what I found out later, I said, “Where were you? We had an appointment.” And she goes, “Wait a minute, do you have an attitude with me?” And I’m going, “No, I just was supposed to come and you weren’t there and we had an appointment.” And she goes, “I don’t like this attitude that you’re giving me.” And I’m like, “I’m not giving you an attitude.” But I’m thinking, that’s an interesting way to say it to someone who went out of their way to come and tutor your daughter.

In Leah’s household, with her pretty much the boss, it was uncomfortable. It was uncomfortable for me but I’m not of that way. It’s uncomfortable for her family and they used to fight with her. But they didn’t fight to the point where they felt better; I think they fought to the point where Leah pretty much was the aggressive one. And they backed off because she was very aggressive and she was very—it was very known that you don’t talk like that to Leah. And if you do, it would be, you’d have to answer for it.

One time her sister said, “Well, that’s the wrath of Leah.” And she was afraid of it. And it’s just because Leah created a wrath about her. And not a good way, a mean way and an aggressive way, which made you think that she wasn’t a very nice person.

If she went to a restaurant, she was never happy with the food and she would definitely aggressively say, “Take it back,” or she would complain somehow or another. I don’t think I ever went out with them where there wasn’t some complaint from Leah or her family. And this is just something that I observed over the years. And it was uncomfortable to even go out with them sometimes because I was embarrassed that she would be so brutal to waiters and waitresses. And if she didn’t get what she felt she wanted, she makes a pretty big deal out of it, to the point where I was totally embarrassed.

Leah is pretty much playing a part. It’s not really the way she is. She’s not a victim at all. And she’s not a big crusader for anything. What she is, is a crusader for herself.