Another ‘Today Show’ interview with a Scientologist actor is drawing attention. Co-anchor Meredith Vieira spoke with Kirstie Alley on March 16 during the NBC morning news show, and the first question the reporter asked the actress was if her Organic Liaison diet program is connected to her controversial religion.

While Alley appeared on the program to discuss her new A&E reality show ‘Kirstie Alley’s Big Life’ and her recent weight gain, she told Popeater.com the next day that she felt ambushed by Vieira. After the opening segment about Alley and her show and company, Vieira immediately referred to claims made by the Hollywood Reporter’s Roger Friedman. These claims include that Organic Liaison is run by high-ranking members of the religion, which Alley immediately refuted.

During a press event the day after the interview, Alley pointed to the fact that Friedman has written numerous articles against Scientology over the years. She said she is also upset that she has to defend her company against intolerance. ‘Organic Liaison is its own L.L.C. and is not affiliated with The Church of Scientology or the World Institute of Scientology…Out of the 25 approximate employees…four are Scientologists,’ she added.

Alley also said that she is proud of her new reality show, and that’s why she went on ‘Today.’ She said she went on the news program to promote the show, and ‘It isn’t that I can’t answer a question about speculation…When I saw they were using (Friedman) as the source, (I knew) it was am ambush. And that is what led the introduction to my show.’ She also said she didn’t even know that there has been speculation about Organic Liaison being linked to her religion before she appeared on ‘Today.’

The actress said that if her company was a Scientology company, she would have promoted it that way. Alley also feels that her religion is being linked to her company only because it’s controversial. ‘You would never ask like, ‘What religion is Jenny Craig?’ No one knows and no one cares. You’d never be like, ‘Is this a front for the Methodist church?” she added.

Written by: Karen Benardello

Kirstie Alley

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