Elisabeth Moss’ membership in the Church of Scientology became the topic of a difficult conversation on her Instagram account, with fans ripping her for belonging to a movement that allegedly engages in the kind of thought control and repression that was depicted in her critically acclaimed series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The recriminations were enough that Moss felt compelled to briefly respond to a fan who asked whether her starring in “The Handsmaid’s Tale” made her re-think her religious affiliation. In the series, Moss plays a young woman forced into sexual slavery by a dystopian, fundamentalist society.
Moss, who rarely speaks about her lifelong affiliation with Scientology, wrote: “Religious freedom and tolerance and understanding the truth and equal rights for every race, religion and creed are extremely important to me. The most important things to me probably.”
“And so Gilead (the fictional society) and THT (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’) hit me on a very personal level,” she continued, according to the Daily News. “Thanks for the interesting question!”
But fans weren’t buying her explanations, saying they were disappointed to find out that an actress they so admire is affiliated with an allegedly cult-like movement that has been accused of engaging in widespread corrupt and abusive practices, including sexual assault. One even asked how she can “sleep at night.”
Fans’ scrutiny of Moss comes in the two weeks since her affiliation with the movement made headlines on entertainment sites. The headlines started after both she and actress Leah Remini, an anti-Scientology crusader, both won honors from the Television Critics Association on Aug. 5.
Moss, 35, was celebrated for her role in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” while Remini, 47, won for her A&E documentary series “Scientology and the Aftermath,” which investigates the Church and its cult-like activities.
A writer attending the ceremony tweeted that Moss was so unhappy over Remini’s win that she left the room while Remini accepted her TCA award.
Remini publicly denounced Scientology in a 2015 tell-all book; she had left the church after 34 years. Through her documentary, she has recently ramped up efforts to get the FBI and other federal agencies to investigate the movement.
Now both she and Moss are nominated for Emmy awards to be given out Sept. 17. Moss’ name came up in an interview Remini gave to the Hollywood Reporter that generated more uncomfortable headlines last week.
Remini was asked what would happen if she crossed paths with Moss. Remini explains that Moss “believes that she can’t talk to me.” Remini and others say the Church forbids current members from associating with defectors because those people are considered to be a negative influence, or “Suppressive Persons,” “SPs.”
“She believes that I’m an antisocial personality — because I’ve spoken out against Scientology,” said Remini. “So she isn’t allowed to talk to me,” Remini continued. “And me knowing that, I wouldn’t put her in the awkward position.”
In her defense of Scientology, Moss said the allegations made in the Instagram post were “not true at all.”
But some fans weren’t buying it.
“There is no misconception about Scientology it is a cult and in fact you do not speak with Leah Remini because of this cult you’re in,” wrote @mskimm.
Others expressed disappointment that the actress who first won fans and Emmy nominations as Peggy Olson in “Mad Men” was a member of the group.
“I hope you find your way out. You’re so talented,” wrote @misskerry333.
Some fans perhaps referred to her New York Times interview, published last Sunday, in which Moss addressed the feminist and human rights aspects of “Handmaid’s Tale.”
She said the story is “first and foremost” a feminist story. “I play a woman who has had her child and her family taken away from her, and all of her rights as a woman stripped and who is essentially a prisoner.”
One person pointed out the possible hypocrisy in her statement, given allegations made by Remini and others that members of the church engage in sexual assault, including of children.
“As someone who was molested as a child I find it so hard for you to defend this so called church,” wrote @hills2011.
Finally, @novi_scott_ asked Moss how she can support an organization that “stalks ex parishioners, launches smear ads against people, asks disconnection, has a concept like SP, and asks for massive amounts of money from its followers?” This person pointed out that “no other major religion does that.”
While such abuses may not be happening to Moss, “they are happening,” this user continued. “How can you turn a blind eye to the pain this organization causes good people” Seems so ironic given the character you play.”
