My Name is Earl actor Jason Lee and his wife quit Scientology
The controversial religion has lost another famous face from its congregation
MY Name is Earl actor Jason Lee has quit Scientology for good.
The 46-year-old, best known for playing Earl Hickey in the NBC comedy, was once a prolific member of the controversial religion favoured by other famous faces including Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
But in a recent interview with , he revealed he and his wife Ceren Alkac were no longer part of the congregation after moving to Denton, Texas last year.
He said: "If Ceren and I had an idea for a business, it certainly wouldn't happen at the cost of someone else's.
And being that we don't practise Scientology, and that we aren't particularly interested in opening religious centres in general, we have no plans to open a Scientology centre.
"Quite a few rumours about me/us floating around but none of it's true. We're not here to buy up or change or take over Denton, put some kind of personal stamp on it.
"We're just here like anyone else who wants to be a part of Denton's very cool creative community, and to be involved and perhaps help where we can."
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The couple, who tied the knot in 2008, have spoken about Scientology in the past, with Ceren writing a scathing article about her experiences for Gawker.com last year.
She wrote: "Jason had been a Scientologist for about five years when we met.
"He was introduced through his ex-girlfriend, Marissa Ribisi, and her family. When I think back, I believe a part of me knew if I didn't accept Scientology the marriage would be over before it even started.
"Jason and I had spoken about Scientology many times. Our relationship was serious; we had just moved in together.
What is Scientology?
According to their official literature: "Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being."
It claims to have roots in the beliefs of “all great religions”, therefore encompassing “a religious heritage as old and as varied as Man himself”. It could be considered to be 50,000 years old.
"Eventually, I started to feel like he was forcing Scientology on me, past the point where I didn't want to go any further. He would never stop talking about it.
"It became a source of contention and I realised that unless I accepted Scientology the way he did and the way he wanted me to, we would most
likely cease to know each another."
Jason isn't the first star to turn their back on Scientology, as actress Leah Remini also quit the religion in 2013 after being part of the congregation since the age of nine.
Other famous names who follow Scientology include former Cheers actress Kirstie Alley, Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss and Crash actor Michael Peña.