After learning of Kirstie Alley’s passing, Leah Remini has decided to speak out.
Remini, who is 52 years old, made those words in a statement that was released with Rolling Stone. “The news of Kirstie Alley’s demise is incredibly painful.”
Since Leah Remini’s departure from the Church of Scientology in 2013, the two actors have been involved in a public verbal spat that has lasted for years. In an interview with Howard Stern in 2013, Alley referred to her former friend from King of Queens as a “bigot” after the latter made statements about the Christian church that Alley found to be very offensive.
Remini said in her statement this week that she is keeping the Cheers star’s daughters, True Stevenson, 30, and Lillie Stevenson, 28, in her thoughts during this difficult time. Remini’s message was released this week.
“Although Scientologists don’t believe in prayers, my prayers do go out to her two children, who are now without their mom,” she said. “My prayers do go out to her two children, who are now without their mom.” I have high hopes that they will one day be able to break out of such a perilous and poisonous institution.
Alley’s children said on Monday that their mother had passed away “after a fight with cancer, which was just recently detected.” It was the year 71.
“She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead,” they said in a joint statement to PEOPLE, which was also shared on Alley’s Instagram page. “She fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead,” they added. “She was an even more incredible mother and grandmother than she was an iconic figure on the silver screen. We are grateful to the extraordinary group of medical professionals at the Moffitt Cancer Center for the care that they provided.”
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Following on from what True and Lillie said, “Our mother’s boundless enthusiasm and boundless love for life, her children, her grandchildren, and her many animals, not to mention her unending joy in creating, were unrivaled, and they leave us feeling inspired to live our lives to the fullest, just as she did. In this trying time, we want you to know how much we appreciate your love and prayers, but we also ask that you respect our privacy.”
After some time had passed, a representative for the star of Drop Dead Gorgeous revealed that her client had been diagnosed with colon cancer.