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Jennifer Lopez Helped Leah Remini Get Through Scientology Exit

What are best friends for? Jennifer Lopez supported Leah Remini during her Dancing With the Stars days, and she also stayed by her side during one of the most critical moments in her life. The “I Luh Ya Papi” singer explained during a Friday, March 21 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she helped Remini through her dramatic July 2013 exit from the Church of Scientology.

“She said she credited you for helping her through this whole exiting Scientology thing,” DeGeneres said to Lopez, 44.

Lopez replied: “We are best friends. Yeah, it was a tough moment for her. You know what I mean? It’s all she knew her whole life.”

She continued: “When you’re raised a certain way and around people for a long time — whatever that is — it’s going to be hard.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Scientologists

jlo on ellen
Jennifer Lopez talking about BFF Leah Remini on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The King of Queens alum, 43, said in a February 2014 interview with Buzzfeed that there were “dozens” of factors that led her to leave the Church of Scientology back in July 2013. But the biggest reason of all was her 9-year-old daughter, Sofia.

“She was getting to the age where the acclimation into the Church would have to start [auditing],” Remini said at the time. “In my house, it’s family first — but I was spending most of my time at the Church. So, I was saying ‘family first,’ but I wasn’t showing that. I didn’t like the message that sent my daughter.”

Related: PHOTOS: Famous moms and daughters

On February 27, a rep for the Church responded to the actress’ claims. “It comes as no surprise that someone as self-absorbed as Leah Remini with an insatiable craving for attention would exploit her former faith as a publicity stunt by rewriting her history with it, including omitting that she was participating in a program to remain a Scientologist by her own choice, as she was on the verge of being expelled for her ethical lapses,” a rep told Us exclusively.

Up next, Remini is set to release a tell-all memoir about her experiences with the Church.

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