Oakley, I thought you said you read tabloid sites like TMZ and Perez Hilton.

Gay or not, Scientologist or not, H'wood has a manner of toppling those at the top when things turn vicious. Remember Mel Gibson? He was THE top actor for years, then one bad scene after another and he's persona non-grata.

I think the reason that TC is still closeted is that it's hard for middle America to accept a macho gay man. NY and LA, it's not worth a blink, but in the other parts of the country (and some foreign countries) it'd be a death knell to the performer and the studios. It's all about the benjamins in H'wood.

My uncle was just telling me that the film industry is taking quite a hit-foreign countries are producing more of their own films, not importing US flicks as much, and productions...big budget films are on the wane, so A-list action stars NEED to keep up appearances to keep the studios running. He's an industry insider, btw.

As for the divorce, I think Oak is on to something...I think Katie is going to have a hard time gaining custody. She'll be chewed up and spit out by the time all is said & done I'm afraid. Scientology 'Church' is too powerful.

I remember being approached as a young teen in LA by them...they were pretty relentless and made it look really hip and cool. I shudder to think of how many young people bit.

Remember Mel Gibson? He was THE top actor for years, then one bad scene after another and he's persona non-grata

I think it was Mel's own misogynistic and anti-semitic rants that did him in. Plus alcohol.

Yeah, Mel did himself in.

I'm sure there are a bunch of gay writers, directors, producers, etc. but there are no openly gay leading men. At least I can't think of any. I just don't think the general public would accept a romantic or macho movie, knowing the actor was gay.

Speaking of movies, DH and I are desperate to watch a good movie and we have yet to find on. We don't go to movies but watch on demand at home. We watched "Wanderlust" the other night with Jennifer Aniston and it was just horrible.

Kelly, there are several gay men on the small screen (tv) at this point who play hetero men with romantic interests. Let's hope the general public starts to understand that it is 'acting' and the actor's sexual orientation is of little consequence-they certainly accept straights playing gays. What is the difference really?

Speaking of gay ...

Anderson Cooper: "The fact is, I'm gay"

Oakley, I have lived less than five miles from the mother ship of scientology, the former Fort Harrison Hotel in downtown Clearwater, FL. I have had Scientology neighbors, and actually know people who were peripherally involved with the death of Lisa McPherson. I too despise Scientology, and with more knowledge of their activities than most.

That said, your statement that you "see" the divorce as being all about Scientology is just your opinion, right? For all we know, Tom may have halitosis, he may be a terrible lover, or her may just be excruciatingly boring. You seem to have decided that "the" issue is Scientology, and if you somehow KNOW that is the case, please share.

And, fwiw, thinking that the entire US court system is infiltrated with Scientologists is a bit of a stretch---one of many conspiracy theories about that group.

I check out TMZ every now and then, but I don't read Perez. FYI, even though TMZ is a tabloid, I do trust what they say since the national news quotes TMZ often. Other than that, nope!

Pesky, I don't think people here know about the power of the S. church. Notice I don't capitalize "church" in this situation. :)

This story has made all the news, and it's not really about T & K getting a divorce, it's more about what Scientology will have to do with it.

I think it is Tom's behavior About his behavior/persona that both fuels the speculation and annoys people.

There have been a number of male stars over the years whose sexuality has been questioned, and in recent years it seems that they mostly either shrug it off or make a public statement of denial and move on. (I have a friend who had a sexual encounter with a male star a tier or two below Cruise. He has told very few people, because he says "Some people would believe me, a lot of people would not, and everybody would think I was trying to cash in." The star was single and childless at the time, and is now married with children. He is one of those about whom there has been a fair amount of speculation, which he mostly completely ignores without comment).

Cruise sues everybody who says "boo!". He sued the male porn star I mentioned above for $100M, as well as the porn stars wife, and one of the magazines that originated the story. Why not just say "Who are you gonna believe, me, or some lowlife who makes nude wrestling videos?"

With regards to Mel Gibson, yes his crazy behavior has finally done him in, it appears, but Tom Cruise's spin is so powerful that the bizarre couch-jumping and post-partum depression bashing was a mere blip on the screen. For years you couldn't even really discuss his actual height. This is why I think he has some Faustian bargain: he's short, he's okay-looking, and he is a serviceable actor, and yet his personal is tall, dark, handsome, exceptional actor. It took really bizarre behavior of a few years ago to make anybody even evaluate the contrast between the reality and the myth.

I think most celebrities are just a tier below politians. Self absorbed narcissuses who could stand more time around regular people. Of course, there are exceptions but the industry puts far too much emphasis on superficial qualities and I find them very boring.

Tom Cruise comes across as very strange to me but so do many of the others. Yawn. I can't figure out why society thinks acting is so valuable of a skill that these people become zillionaires. I'd rather we valued other professions like teaching, etc

I don't mean you golddust but sometimes people complain that movie actors shouldn't make so much money. The market drives that.
And it is sad but true that our society values celebrities more than teachers, etc.

FYI, even though TMZ is a tabloid, I do trust what they say since the national news quotes TMZ often.

The national news quotes TMZ so they can get in on the sleazy journalism without the liability since it's not coming directly from them.

"The national news quotes TMZ so they can get in on the sleazy journalism without the liability since it's not coming directly from them."

This is 200% true!

"It took really bizarre behavior of a few years ago to make anybody even evaluate the contrast between the reality and the myth."

I agree, after seeing him with matt lauer and then the Oprah show he is really weird and he is very condescending like anyone who doesn't agree with his beliefs is just ignorant, god he must be a bore a dinner parties.

The thing that I've found baffling for so long now, is he couldn't have kids with mimi and I thought that was a big part of why they broke up, he didn't have kids with nicole and adopted instead, which gives a lot of credibility to the rumours he was firing blanks, and then within seconds he gets katie pregnant? Since when do men become more fertile with age? that has always seemed really strange to me. just saying. Maybe katie getting pregnant (however that miracle happened) was a way of getting public acceptance of him marrying her, because a lot of people thought it was very creepy that he was dating someone so young who just years earlier had posters of him on her bedroom wall. I want to see a paternity test on suri, because I have my doubts she came from tom's seed lol

Men who drink heavily then quit will find their fertility soars, sometimes.

Early on he didn't give interviews, word was he was too shy. I keep remembering how Rosie O gushed about him back when she was sane and had a successful talk show. Now I have to wonder, once she met him, if her interest waned. He should have stuck to the "shy" schtick. He is a horrid interview and frankly I have never been bowled over by his acting. He was fortunate to get some great roles in movies with super story lines but now I am thinking HE didn't make the movies the movies made him. Katie as money? More than you and I but compare to him, I wonder? Back when he and Nicole were divorcing I read where his so over the top lifestyle far exceeded most in Hollywood, including hers, and that was an issue in their divorce. He can afford to make it very difficult to get free of him.

I stopped clicking links to TMZ after they posted a picture of Michael Jackson's dead body. I was never very comfortable looking at the site and the body picture was the final straw. I don't miss the site a bit.

Pal, I think I know who you are talking about. The only thing that is throwing me is the "tier or two below". Makes for fun speculation though.

Running out the door, so haven't read the above responses yet (but will), but, I have to be honest, went to see Rock of Ages last night, and I DO NOT want to think of Tom Cruise gay! It does make a difference to most people, I think. He was SO GOOD in that movie! He was pretty sexy, I thought. He has actually always given me the "willies" also, never liked him that much.

Maybe its my problem (very well could be) but, if I know an actor is gay, it is hard to imagine them in a romantic role in a boy-girl relationship.

Just being honest...doesn't mean I'm homophobic.

Napoleon complex perhaps?

Here is a link that might be useful: short man syndrome

For those with money, pregnancy is much more of a given these days than it was at the time he was with Mini and even Nicole. So many advancements in technology.

gold dust... an apt homonym .. (Narcissus)

⸠noun: (Greek mythology) a beautiful young man who fell in love with his own reflection
⸠noun: bulbous plant having erect linear leaves and showy yellow or white flowers either solitary or in clusters

I remember when tabloid covers had early shots of Cruise and Holmes on their covers... couldn't help notice their very similar facial structure!

"For those with money, pregnancy is much more of a given these days than it was at the time he was with Mini and even Nicole. So many advancements in technology."

Yep that's true and I do believe some medical intervention was probably used, but the question then becomes why would a couple who aren't even married and are only newly dating seek out medical intervention to get pregnant? that would be an odd thing to do. I just find it hard to believe the pregnancy just happened so easily with tom.

Unless it was important that katie got pregnant, like it was to legitimize their relationship and then marriage because there was a big creep factor for a lot of people when they got together and I don't think tom's image was too good. I think if they had just got married with no baby in the mix, the creep factor still would have been there but I've always thought there was something suspicious about the timing and quickness of that first pregnancy given tom's history.

I like Cruise in the MOVIES....that's it.

I could care LESS....well maybe I "could" care LESS...
;-)
about celeb. "marriages".

This scientology crap is getting old, don'cha think??!?!?

Faron

"Yep that's true and I do believe some medical intervention was probably used,"

How could you possibly know this?

""Yep that's true and I do believe some medical intervention was probably used,"

"How could you possibly know this?"

I don't know it, but it's the most likely thing that makes sense. It's far less logical that tom suddenly after years of not having biological children with two previous wives suddenly became very virile ;)

No one seems to consider that the other "ladies" may have been on birth control that MAYBE Katie wasn't. Of course this is all SPECULATION. Unless and until Katie or Tom join us how could be anything more? The curious part, for me, is how many
1. agree Tom is eye candy of a sort.
2. agree he is ODD to say the least.
3. blame scientology for much of the problem.
Was there a contract/ wasn't there a contract, is he gay/isn't he gay.
Truth is we here will NEVER know for sure until Tom writes a book!!

"No one seems to consider that the other "ladies" may have been on birth control that MAYBE Katie wasn't. "

why would mimi who wanted to have kids be on birth control? why would nicole who was married to him for 10 years and want children enough to then adopt be on birth control? It's not like she would have had to put her skyrocketing career on hold to have kids. If things don't make sense when you put the pieces together, they just don't don't add up

The assumptions being made are mind boggling. Most of my near and dear make decisions and take actions with motives that may be unclear or private....usually, what we see on the surface is like the visible part of an iceberg, a very small part of the whole. If one has never even met these people, could the logic or otherwise of their actions--- defined by feelings, circumstances, motives, and previous experience, all unknown by you--- be evaluated by a complete stranger?

For those who don't know, Mimi Rogers was a Scientologist before she met and married Cruise, and in fact she introduced him to the organization. She was still a member when they divorced. And although she divorced him in 1989, she did not choose to have a child until 1995, when she was 39. She had another child six years after with the same man. Those facts don't sound as though she was desirous of having a child and left Cruise because he could not, does it? And she obviously did not leave him because of Scientology!

".usually, what we see on the surface is like the visible part of an iceberg, a very small part of the whole."

I think that's what people here are saying though. These megastars don't live in the same reality the rest of us do. They do things and are used to getting what they want, when they want, and now, but when those things are unpalatable to enough of the population, their popularity and careers take a hit as a result. This is why they have management and spin doctors to manipulate the perceived reality among the general populous as best as possible. What they "tell" the public is sometimes very contrived and deliberate though.

I mean seriously, how many people believe any of michael jackson's marriages were more than manipulative spin to suit the purpose of his damaged public persona? These type of things are all par for the course when your image is tied to your career as a megastar.

Tom's popularity took a hit among women when he separated and divorced from nicole, her popularity soared though at the time so public perception does have an important role in their careers. Then tom starts dating a girl 16 odd years younger than him, and that did not help his image with women. I have no doubt he wanted to marry katy, and she was smitten with him, so I don't think it's a huge leap to think that the spindoctors came up with as many scenarios as possible to make that more acceptable to the public for the sake of tom's career, at a time when the relationship was being bashed in the media as a bit sick. As long as the star gets what they want, and the spindoctors can sell that in a way that the public will accept in a more positive light, then that's the end game and why people get paid good money to deal with these image issues.

Trancegemini, did you see my post about Mimi Rogers? Facts, unlike a handler's 'spin' or a fan's fantasy, are helpful if one must form opinions about things like this. Fwiw, I have no opinion about Tom Cruise other than that I think he is a pretty good actor. Occasionally brilliant, occasionally missing the mark by a wide margin, usually competent enough for the role.

On a lighter note, a friend sent a link to this funny blog--- which, I feel I must say, is not actually authored by Suri Cruise :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Suri's Burn Book

OMG kswl - I have spent way too much time reading that blog. Too funny!

I've always thought that one day Katie would wake up and grow up and realize her error. End of story.

Boopadoo--- I know, right? The guy who writes it is a genius of understatement :-)

Boopadoo--- I know, right? The guy who writes it is a genius of understatement :-)

OMG that blog book was funny! Some of the "posts" were merely mildly amusing, but others were seriously spit-out-your-coffee funny!

Oh, I couldn't resist! Wish I could freeze the frame where Katie's eyes are like this: O.O

From the blog:

That Suri Burn Book site is hilarious. Thank you!

Yes, the Suri site not only made my day but my sisters loved it too.

Whether she is orchestrating it or has good advisors on the payroll, Katie is surely doing a great job getting images of her as the adoring, protective mommy out to the world. Not saying she isn't, but if Tom Cruise is really such a master of the public image he taught her well. Here he is, off in Iceland(!) leaving his soon to be ex wife in the hub of the media world free to make it look like of course she is the suitably engaged, and engaging, parent to their child.

Well done Katie!

GGM, that would be my suspicion too. I doubt it was any one thing but more of a coming into her own. She she apparently stated in an interview. Admittedly, TC never really appealed to me but I appreciate that his movies are generally well done.

I think it was Good Morning American today that reported Katie has lived in NY the last two years to establish residency, her father is an attorney who is protecting her interests and that NY state will give sole custody to one parent (and of course she is hoping it is her) and they go to court at the end of the month.

And they have already settled....Let the speculation begin, lol!

No speculations - I also saw on the news where they have signed a settlement. Also heard their message where they asked for privacy during this and stating that their daughter was their main concern. I say good for them, do what best benefits Suri. Sounded like things were amicable. One can only hope!

tina

Is that the sound of bubbles bursting? ;)

It seems like they will do the best thing for their child, that's what counts most.

I'm sure the tabloids will try to dig up dirt and speculate.

"I'm sure the tabloids will try to dig up dirt and speculate."

Yes, the tabloids and all the so called experts. Pretty sad. (lol)

Katie must of had some pretty good dirt on Tom. . .

How's that for speculation! ;)

yes, and maybe she'll write a tell-all book about him and scientology. I suppose I should be ashamed to admit it, but I might read it.

My instant reaction too Kellyeng. Now I hear Katie and Nicole compared notes. Bottom line Katie handled this a lot smarter than I would have given her credit for!!

Well instead of her having something good on him, perhaps they did have some kind of 5 year contract (which was rumoured???) and this is how it ends. If they are both truly interested in what is best for their daughter, there will be no book.

Nancy - you're just being honest, no need to be ashamed!!

tina

you're right tina, thanks-

I don't have more than a passing interest in this story, but I found this quote on another site amusing:

Tom may have had her at hello... but she got him at good-bye!