Singer Joy Villa, known for her outspoken support of Donald Trump and her striking red carpet appearances, has publicly announced her departure from the Church of Scientology. The 39-year-old artist has levelled serious accusations against the institution, claiming it systematically drained her finances while capitalising on her celebrity status for propaganda purposes.
A Costly Exit: Fame, Finances, and Faith
In a candid essay for Evie magazine titled 'Why I Left Scientology,' Villa detailed the profound personal and financial toll of her membership. She stated that by the time she left, the church had cost her nearly two million dollars. "From the outside, my life inside Scientology looked like a success story," Villa wrote. "Inside, it was slowly destroying me."
Villa, a native of Orange County, California, explained that she had lived at the Celebrity Centre in Hollywood for years and was trained at the organisation's highest levels. She became one of its most visible advocates, with her face on posters in churches, used as proof that the system "worked." Her career achievements included multiple Grammy red carpet walks and Billboard number-one hits, all of which she says the church took credit for.
The Church's Rebuttal and Villa's New Path
The Church of Scientology provided a starkly different account to the Daily Mail. In a statement, the church claimed Villa came to them "grappling with profound personal difficulties" and was given counselling and community support. It suggested her public exit was part of an "elaborate grift," stating: "She now seeks to exploit those who supported her during her darkest moments in hopes of making a buck. How un-Christian."
Villa, however, describes her departure as a reclaiming of her soul and faith. Raised as a Christian, she said Scientology initially told her she could keep her belief in Jesus. She now asserts that every professional achievement was attributed by the church to "auditing, donations, and loyalty" rather than talent or perseverance. "Scientology is not a self-help system. It's a control system," she concluded, criticising its practices and suppression of dissent.
Following a Well-Trodden Celebrity Path
Joy Villa now joins a list of high-profile figures who have left the Church of Scientology, including actress Leah Remini and director Paul Haggis. Her decision followed an unhappy experience working for the church in the UK, which left her "deeply depressed."
Villa wrapped up her essay with a firm resolution, stating that leaving cost her years she will never get back but gave her "something infinitely more valuable. My soul. My faith. My freedom in Jesus Christ. And I will never go back." The public split highlights the ongoing tensions between the controversial institution and some of its most famous former adherents.
