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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU-Tom Cruise

458 replies

LucilleBluth · 24/07/2021 19:42

Had a Tom Cruise film on in the background today as I was packing for holiday. It was Collateral on Netflix. It got me thinking about how amazing he was.

When I was a kid in the 80s he was the biggest movie star in the world. He has an amazing legacy that is somewhat tarnished by his association with Scientology.

I loved Cocktail as a kid. How can a genuine movie star just loose a big chunk of their reputation, was it the couch jumping I wonder….the lack of people around him who tell him the truth? I wonder if he sees his daughter?

He was amazing though, I’m not bu about that 😀

OP posts:
Carrotinthesky · 25/07/2021 01:49

After reading this, I did wonder if this is what Scientology has on her to make her not fight to see the children

She wants to see them. They don't want to see her. They are grown up children. Not little ones.

I think they are both still embroiled in scientology, and they are not allowed to see her, even if they wanted to. She is a "suppressive person" i.e, a person who doesn't believe what they believe. She cannot engage with, nor believe, the tenets and beliefs of scientology.

If they agree to see her, they will be cast out of their religious order or at least punished. They are brainwashed.

I'm pretty convinced she'd have them come live with her if she could get them away from their prison.

Missedopportunity · 25/07/2021 01:57

@Carrotinthesky
One lives in London and one lives in Florida so I don't think either of them are in prison.

Missedopportunity · 25/07/2021 02:01

And if they were in prison, I'm sure Tom would launch a daring mission, probably almost impossible, to rescue them. 😊

FadoFado · 25/07/2021 02:03

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's kids have been in the cult since birth. Yes they're adults now but think about the level of deprogramming they'd need to see it it for what it is? Scientology isn't just where you spend an hour on a Sunday morning. It envelops your entire life.

Missedopportunity · 25/07/2021 02:14

@FadoFado. But if they're happy in scientology, why would they want to leave and why should they?

EmeraldShamrock · 25/07/2021 02:18

It must be hard on their birth parents, I'd imagine they hoped the DC would have a good life better than the one before they were adopted.

Missedopportunity · 25/07/2021 03:00

@EmeraldShamrock

It must be hard on their birth parents, I'd imagine they hoped the DC would have a good life better than the one before they were adopted.
Why yes, being the children of two of the most famous people on the planet, children of two multi millionaires, having two adoptive parents who love them and support them, living fulfilling, productive and happy lives; it's a fate a birth mother must dread happening.
Carrotinthesky · 25/07/2021 03:05

I don't know what his contact arrangements are with his youngest child. I know his two older ones have spoken that they are close to him

Of course they are close to him. It's where their cash comes from.They are current members of, and remain smitten with the church of scientology. So efficiently brainwashed.

His older children are members of his scientology church.
They are not "allowed" to contact their mother because she is a "suppressive person" (according to scientololgy rules That is what they call people who don't believe their crap And they are absolutely banned from contacting any family who are not in the fold of scientology, Particularly, family who might be trying to talk you out of it). He has indoctrinated them. They are adopted children, so may not feel a particular attachment to their adopted tmother. Who knows? Maybe they would. rather live with her. Who knows?

They are doing exactly what he wants them to do and what the church of scientology wants them to do.

Good on Katie for getting her baby well away. I've a strong feeling Tom is not allowed to see Suri. And I support that decision to the rafters.

Carrotinthesky · 25/07/2021 03:43

One lives in London and one lives in Florida so I don't think either of them are in prison

Well quite obviously, they are not 'literally; in prison. But they are both huge advocates of scientology. So they are pretty much prisoners to that ideology. They are pretty much prisoners to that, unless they want to diss their dad. I was thinking more of them being in a self constructed prison. They could just say "I want to see Mum cos dad's a bit flaky"

But then they might get the whole weight of the scientology heavy mob descend upon them. Do not understimate the pressure that is on these adult adopted children to support their adopted father.It is in their contract. Their living depends on it.

Not so for Suri. Her mother whisked her away and got her out of it.
Well done Katie.

Carrotinthesky · 25/07/2021 04:03

Why yes, being the children of two of the most famous people on the planet, children of two multi millionaires, having two adoptive parents who love them and support them, living fulfilling, productive and happy lives; it's a fate a birth mother must dread happening

Contrariwise. No. Ten times no. I was born into a poor family. Little money to get us through hard times. Sometimes had not enough coal to light a decent fire or get the oven hot enough (in those days, we had a range cooker, which worked off the coal fire) But still no. No way would I have swapped it for living with a posh family who just happened to have more money than us. My family was money poor but culture rich. Money is most definitely not important for a happy life.

HasaDigaEebowai · 25/07/2021 04:55

Both children are adults and senior in the Scientology organisation as you would Exocet when your Df is a global superstar and right hand man to the cult leader.

HasaDigaEebowai · 25/07/2021 04:55

*expect

LoveFall · 25/07/2021 04:57

I watched Leah Remini's expose. Unbelievable what the cult will do. Very, very concerning and so contrary to a healthy family life and thus society.

spongebath · 25/07/2021 05:13

Good actor. Scientology messed him up but I do wonder if there was always something a bit sinister about him. I think in a relationship he would be a scary, controlling man.

There is something weird and off about Nicole Kidman as well. She's not exactly normal.

Katie Holmes did well protecting Suri and kept her head on.

Eesha · 25/07/2021 06:21

@spongebath Google Nicole's dad and the stories about satanism/cults and Fiona Barnett. Both her dad and BIL died suspiciously.

christdoinghisunspecifiedhobby · 25/07/2021 07:10

I loved him in Top Gun, Cocktail and Born on the Fourth of July. Wikipedia says he joined scientology in 1986, the year he made Top Gun, but I don't think the creepiness set in for a few years.

I can barely look at him now, he makes my skin crawl.

In the earlyish 90s when I would have been 12 or 13 I recorded Top Gun off the telly when it was on ITV and watched and re-watched the video. What I didn't realise was that they had cut out the sex scene. It was only years later, in my 20s, when I bought the DVD and realised I'd missed out a big chunk of it... and the movie was better WITHOUT the sex scene which is the unsexiest sex scene ever.

UseOfWeapons · 25/07/2021 07:18

@Dita73

He is incredibly charming,likeable and really does seem so lovely. In reality,he’s a complete psychopath. The church of Scientology have as good as made him their living God. He can act. If you watch him in the film Magnolia he was brilliant. Why he continues to do all the action crap is beyond me. Money I suppose. He is potentially a dangerous man. He’s basically Ted Bundy
I agree, he’s a very dangerous man. I can’t watch him, as I don’t think he’s a good actor, per se, he’s just acting all the time. He’s even acting himself. He creeps me out. His ‘private’ life is stage managed, but for me, I can’t want someone who has shown such dangerous characteristics.
ShortBacknSides · 25/07/2021 07:22

He’s creepy and he’s messed up at least a couple of women’s lives. Denying what you are is never good in a marriage. Never liked him, don’t rate him as an actor.

TheBullfinch · 25/07/2021 07:36

@Orphlids

He has a lovely nose.
This!

I was watching him in Jack Reacher the other day thinking he had the best male nose and profile (great brow ridge). He's fantastically good looking, charismatic, hard working, a great actor, in amazing shape, does all his own stunts and fight scenes. I wish he'd stop messing with his face though and let his hair go grey. A head of thick dark brown hair at nearly 60 just looks odd.

I know what people mean by 'there's something off' though and for me, I think he always seems to be acting. I dont think we've ever seen the real Tom Cruise. The Scientology is obviously a problem too but I think he's in too deep to ever escape now and they must control him to a very high degree.

It's a real shame.

LynetteScavo · 25/07/2021 07:50

I used to absolutely love TC years ago. Then about the time he divorced NK I totally fell out of love with him. He maybe bright and talented, abut there is something not quite right about him.

custardbear · 25/07/2021 07:53

@VerbenaGirl

I find him creepy. And a good friend of mine worked on a film with him and he wasn’t very nice to people.
I've heard this about TC too - that he wouldn't let people look directly at him and if they did they'd get sacked / shouted at

I don't mind some of his films but ^^ always makes me think he's an arse.

Randomly he's just bought a house in a small town where I grew up (in Kent! )

billy1966 · 25/07/2021 08:05

@Classica

Katie was lucky to have a crafty divorce shark of a lawyer for a father and obviously inherited his cunning, which saved her from the same fate.

Katie and her dad seemingly played a blinder.

Katie planned her exit meticulously and literally left one day and never went back, Suri hasn't had contact with him, his choice in years.

I think any woman leaving like that tells its own tail.

Similarly his treatment of his other wives.

He strikes me as narcissistic and deeply creepy.

The lizard reference is on the money.

TheSockMonster · 25/07/2021 08:25

He’s a fanatic. A charming and possibly even nice one, but all my warning bells sound when I see him interviewed.

I agree with a PP who said he’s playing the role of Tom Cruise.

nanbread · 25/07/2021 08:51

I love watching him in films, he's got great screen presence and I love that he does his own stunts (even though it must be a pain in the arse). Utterly unsexy though.

Everyone says what a lovely guy he is taking time to talk to all people, unfailingly polite etc (except the recent rant) and I'm sure if I met him I'd be charmed, but it's clearly quite a carefully curated thing and it must be bloody exhausting for him, remembering all the names and feigning interest in every single person on set.

I do feel a bit sorry for him really, in the same same I would for anyone who's caught up in a cult - he can't leave scientology even if he wwanted to

Horehound · 25/07/2021 09:03

Utterly unsexy though.

I dunno..have you seen him in rock of ages?!

I'd ride him lol but yeh, not relationship material at all.