Scientology whistleblower dies after health battle

A former senior Scientologist who became one of the Church’s fiercest critics has died, his family revealed – following a battle with cancer.

Mike Rinder, 69, passed a year-and-a-half removed from his advanced esophageal cancer diagnosis, and shortly after sharing a photo with his wife and two kids over Christmas.

In the snap, a smiling Rinder looks a far cry from the man seen next to wife Christie Collbran in photos shot just a few months ago, where the Australian-born defector still had a full head of hair and a healthy complexion.

In the photograph taken December 25, he was bald – seemingly losing his hair within just three months as he grappled with his diagnosis.

In a heartfelt post showing the family during better days, Collbran paid tribute to the father-of-two cohosted the Emmy-winning docuseries Scientology and the Aftermath with Leah Remini.

Penning it Sunday, she did not confirm whether it was cancer that took her beloved’s life and did disclose his day of death.

‘Rest in peace, my sweet, beautiful husband,’ the update began, before memorializing one of Scientologist’s most high-profile detractors. 

He had been part of the agency’s secretive Sea Org for more than three decades, before realizing he had been brainwashed after seeing seeing – and ruminating on – investigative journalist John Sweeney’s film Scientology and Me in 2007.

In the snap, a smiling Rinder looks a far cry from the man seen next to wife Christie Collbran in photos shot just a few months ago, where the Australian-born defector still had a full head of hair and a healthy glow

‘Rest in peace, my sweet, beautiful husband,’ Collbran wrote, revealing the news to the world.

‘I speak for so many when I say the sadness and pain we feel mirror the depth of our unwavering love for you,’ she continued.

‘Your courage, bravery, and integrity are unmatched and will forever inspire us. You have been the pillar of stability in our lives, filling our days with your strength, wisdom, love, laughter, and devotion. 

‘The world will remember you.’ 

The post also contained Rinder’s last words, which Collbran proudly relayed to the public.

‘If you are reading this, I have shuffled off this mortal coil in accordance with the immutable law that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes,” the final message read. 

‘My blog site will remain as an archive of more than 4,000 posts and 300,000 comments. 

‘It has been a labor of love and passion which has allowed me to speak my mind and offer my perspective with no outside filters.’

Rinder and his wife of 12 years, Christie Collbran, is seen here during a date night in September. She memorialized her beloved in a heartfelt post Sunday  

Rinder and Remini are seen at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2017, after wrapping a docuseries that recalled their and other’s experiences in the Church

The two went on to start a podcast, which was cancelled in 2018 after two seasons. Ridner was diagnosed with cancer five years later

There, one will find Rinder’s well-known critiques of the religion, which he became wrapped up in as a child because of his parents.

‘My only real regret,’ he added, ‘is not having achieved what I said I wanted to—ending the abuses of Scientology… and seeing [my son] Jack into adulthood.’

Speaking out to other whistleblowers like Remini and the daughter of current head David Miscavige, he proclaimed: ‘If you are in any way fighting to end those abuses please keep the flag flying – never give up.’

He went on to reference his departure from the controversial organization, counting himself lucky for ‘living two lives in one lifetime. 

‘The second one,’ he framed as ‘the most wonderful years anyone could wish for’, thanks to being spent ‘with all of you and my new family.’

Rinder and Collbran, a former member who also fled Sea Org at the time, married in 2013.

Then almost 60, he spent almost half of his life as Scientology’s international spokesperson and the head of its Office of Special Affairs, while also a member of the Board of Directors of Church of Scientology International.

At age 52, he renounced the religion – fleeing two years removed from the exit of perhaps the only defector more prominent than he. 

Rinder was part of the agency’s secretive Sea Org for decades, before defecting in 2007

He was converted after seeing journalist John Sweeney’s film Scientology and Me in 2007, and had been one of the religion’s fiercest critics

Like Jenna Miscavige (pictured), the 40-year-old niece of leader David Miscavige, he worked in Scientology’s Sea Org for several decades. Afterwards, both began posting and promoting content critical of the religion

Jenna Miscavige, David’s 40-year-old niece, fled the Sea Org in 2005, and today, like Rinder had done for the better part of a decade on his blog, posts regular rundowns of her life in – and after surviving – Scientology’s most powerful sect.

Today, she lives in California with her two children. Like Rinder and his wife, the pair met whiel in the Church, before leaving together in 2005.

The Church of Scientology ‘did their darndest to make life hell for us’ she said in a video posted two months ago, claiming her marriage fell apart due to distrust sowed by the web of spies she claims the organization inserted into her life after she left.

 The church denied all of her allegations in a statement to DailyMail.com.

In 2015 and 2016, Rinder hosted Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath on A&E, alongside the King of Queens star. 

Over the course of three seasons the the pair delved into their and other former member’s experiences in the Church, claiming like Miscavige that they were harassed after publicly speaking out and parting way. 

Upon the show’s conclusion, Remini and Rinder continued their partnership with a podcast Scientology: Fair Game, which launched in 2020.  

The religion currently counts stars like Tom Cruise and John Travolta as members.