Katie Holmes issues brief apology to Leah Remini after Scientology expose

Katie Holmes has apologized to Leah Remini after the former Scientologist revealed she had once been admonished by religious leaders for criticizing the star and her then-boyfriend Tom Cruise.

Remini has been a vocal opponent of church officials' treatment of their followers since denouncing the organization in 2013, after serving as a member since the age of 10, when her mother became a Scientologist.

The former King of Queens actress has detailed the emotional experience in her new memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, and she has opened up further in a candid interview with ABC News.

In a preview of the chat, Remini reveals followers are encouraged to help keep other members in line by reporting incidents or comments of concern to religious officials, who keep a record of the "knowledge reports".

She claims she often "wrote up" her own husband, Angelo, but she felt the wrath of Scientology leaders herself after she made a comment about a public display of affection between Cruise, one of the church's most famous followers, and Holmes, who he began dating in 2005.

Remini recalls once being invited to Cruise's Los Angeles home to give him a salsa dancing lesson, but when she and Angelo arrived, they were met by two top-ranking Scientology officials. They were welcomed into the mansion, where Remini made a quip about the Hollywood couple.

"He (Cruise) was like, forcibly kissing Katie," she explained. "And I said, 'Hey, get a freaking room.' And uh, well, I was written up for that."

"You can assume if you say something that is critical to the church, you will be written up," she continued, adding, "Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself. You are evil."

Holmes, who was married to Cruise from 2006 to 2012, declined to be interviewed for the 20/20 special, but after a preview of Remini's interview aired on breakfast show Good Morning America on Friday, she released a statement about the incident in question.

"I regret having upset Leah in the past and wish her only the best in the future," she simply stated via her representative.

Holmes has never spoken out about her experiences with Scientology or her ex-husband's longtime involvement in the church.