Kirstie Alley & Diet Controversy Over Weight Loss Funding

By: Kara Gilmour
Staff Writer
Published: Mar 17, 2010

Organic Liaison LLC, Kirstie Alley & diet program, is the first USDA certified organic weight loss product. Reports suggest she's funneling money for Scientology teachings.

Kirstie Alley & diet weight loss program is under controversy. There are some reports that suggest money raised through her company is funding Scientology teachings. However, the actress insists that the allegations are not true.

The former Jenny Craig spokeswoman recently launched Organic Liaison LLC after years of battling her size under the glare of the spotlight. Members pay between $10 and $149 per month to follow the regime, which combines an organic food diet with vitamins and supplements. In fact, the weight loss and diet program has worked for many.

However, recent reports suggest that the company is channeling money directly into the church. The controversy started when links were discovered between the Organic Liaison and Scientology. However, the firm's accountant, Saul B Lipson, is a known Scientologist whose company is approved by the church and based near its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida.

Alley insists the claims have no merit. She says, "It's bulls**t. It's not true. The address in Clearwater is my accountant, and he's a Scientology Jew." It could just be total coincidence.

Actress, To Former Jenny Craig Spokeswoman, To Organic Weight loss Program

Kirstie Alley received a supporting role in the 1982 movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, playing Romulan-Vulcan officer Lieutenant Saavik. She was chosen because of her resemblance to a real Vulcan as imagined by Gene Roddenberry. She turned down the role of Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock because the producers would not meet her salary demands.

The actress rose to prominence in her 1987-1993 role as the neurotic corporate executive Rebecca Howe on the long-running hit TV sitcom Cheers. While Cheers was the launching pad for the successful spin-off Frasier, Alley was the only living regular cast member from that show who did not appear on Frasier. In 1992, she played a TV news reporter in Prince's video for "My Name Is Prince."

Her second NBC sitcom, Veronica's Closet, ran for three seasons in the late 1990s. Alley reportedly received $2 million in up-front fees for her work on that series and $150,000 per episode. She has won two Emmy Awards during her career.

In 2005, after her weight increased to over 200 pounds, she headlined a "mockumentary" style comedy series for Showtime called Fat Actress. Alley played herself in the show, which details the daily life of an overweight actress trying to make it in Hollywood. She has become an advocate against obesity and was a spokeswoman for the Jenny Craig weight-loss program.

Television ads have documented Alley's weight loss in recent years. She had lost a total of 75 pounds, according to her November 6, 2006 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She appeared in a semi-bikini outfit, with a fabric midriff and several yards of translucent chiffon to hide her back-view.

In early February 2007, Alley launched Organic Liaison, LLC. It is the first USDA certified organic weight loss product. She has lost 20 pounds since starting the program.