Tom Cruise Gets A Little More Crazy On The Today Show
He's at it again. This time, Tom Cruise has appeared on the NBC Today show, in a crazy clash with host Matt Lauer about his Scientology anti-psychiatry beliefs.
Tom Cruise went crazy at the Today host when questioned about Scientology and prescription drugs, even rejecting claims that drugs such as Ritalin help people as "glib".
You've got to hand it to Tom Cruise (DVDs) - of all the career suicides in history, this is one of the most spectacular.
The last Tom Cruise film was, in fact, the best Tom Cruise film. In Collateral he played completely against 'failed hero redeems himself and saves the world' type, and for once he was believable. The film was an exercise in stylish understatement, and was all the better for it. It looked like Tom Cruise was entering the most interesting stage in his career.
Then, before you know it, he's shacked up with a virgin young enough to be his daughter, leaps about on Oprah's sofa, proposes to his young beau and gets squirted in the face at a premiere of a film where he fights some aliens.
Sure, that's some crazy oddball behaviour. But at least it's entertaining crazy oddball behaviour. Going on television and dismissing a renowned care profession - well, that's slightly more dangerous.
He'd already spoken out against Brooke Shields - an actress who bravely and candidly discussed her post-natal depression and how taking anti-depressants helped her cope. He returned to the topic on Today, where he told Lauer "She doesn't know the history of psychiatry". He went on to suggest that vitamins and exercise were more effective.
"If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt, okay? That's what I've done."
It's no secret that Scientology has strong links to the mental health profession - founder L. Ron Hubbard had written a book called Dianetics: The Modern Science Of Mental Health, and there are reports that an internal Scientology policy statement contained the line "Our war has been forced to become to take over absolutely the field of mental healing on this planet in all forms."
Nobody is suggesting that people aren't allowed to discuss things that they feel strongly about, but it seems a little irresponsible of Cruise to use his celebrity to denounce something which has helped thousands of people over the years, especially as he has no formal qualifications to back up his words.
How will this affect Tom's career? Will studios trust him to star in and promote their films when he keeps straying away from actual promotion in order to put the world to rights? Only time will tell.
The fact remains - if you want help with mental illness, go to a doctor. If you want to see a tiny, big-nosed man running around trying to look sincere, go and see War Of The Worlds.
What do you think? Is Tom right to get so uptight about prescription drugs, or should he just take a chill pill? Leave your comments below.
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[story by Stuart Heritage]
Posted by: on I have lost all respect and interest in Tom Cruise. I wish him no ill will, however, think he is probably the biggest idiot on the face of this planet. I hope that he never has to deal with any sort of unexplained depression. I also hope people that are dealing with this disease pay no attention to this little man.
Posted by: Cari at 27 Jun 2005 13:32:08
When will we as a society stop caring what actors and "celebrities" think? Their job is to entertain us, and that's it.
Posted by: Alex at 27 Jun 2005 13:48:18
He is a weirdo...
Posted by: guest at 27 Jun 2005 13:58:56
I hope his kids have ADD to the tenth power.
Posted by: Turner at 27 Jun 2005 14:03:09
Hmmmm, I wonder if scientology has, in fact, brainwashed Tom and he's not smart enough to know it?
Posted by: Pat at 27 Jun 2005 14:10:04
When Tom has to teach kids that can't sit down for 10 seconds and are running around a classroom constantly for 8 hours a day because of Attention Deficit Disorder then maybe he can speak out about Ritalin. Until then maybe he should be a little less vocal.
Posted by: Tal at 27 Jun 2005 14:16:26
What an ego trip this man is on. Who does he think he is? I will never go see another one of his movies. He has basically said that half of the people who supported his career are idiots. Well, who is the idiot now?
Posted by: Jodi at 27 Jun 2005 14:21:55
I'm still trying to figure out Katie Holmes' whole "16 missing days" thing. It's bad enough Cruise is torpedeoing his own career, but when Holmes disappears for 16 days after meeting Cruise for the first time and reemerges having picked up a fiance, having picked up a new (Scientology-practicing) best friend, having dropped her strict Catholic beliefs, and having dropped her long-time agent, you'd have to wonder if her less-established career is shot to hell too.
Posted by: Andrew at 27 Jun 2005 14:24:09
Who does he think he is? He is a highschool dropout, hardley an expert on anything..He sounds foolish to quote research.....Idiot who should just go away, at the very least he needs to fire his sister and re-hire his former publistist...
Posted by: russ at 27 Jun 2005 14:45:57
Tom can afford Scientology. My friend who didn't finish high school & had lots of mental problems couldn't, yet she eventually gave them thousands in "donations," some of which was for classes to take in her "next lives." & she ended up in prison, anyway.
Posted by: DiAnne at 27 Jun 2005 14:46:44
Tom can afford Scientology. My friend who didn't finish high school & had lots of mental problems couldn't, yet she eventually gave them thousands in "donations," some of which was for classes to take in her "next lives." & she ended up in prison, anyway.
Posted by: DiAnne at 27 Jun 2005 14:46:44
I think Tom Cruise has ruined his credibility as one of America's prominent leading actors. Instead, Mr. Cruise has exhibited a dominant personality that differs from the personality American's have seen up until now, which shows that he is a fake person. He speaks about issues from a narrow perspective and is a closed-minded individual. His dualistic thinking is what will come to haunt him as the media is getting ready to tackle his beliefs and putdowns. If anyone is strong it's Brooke Shields, maybe Tom should take some lessons from her. I feel bad for him because I truly believe he is experiencing a midlife crisis and I hope I do not experience the amount of embarassment he has when I, one day, go through mine.
Posted by: Jav at 27 Jun 2005 14:57:44
WOW! When Demi Moore hooks up with a younger guy she is "trend setting". When celebs speak about politics they are touted as enlightened. This guy hooks up with a younger chick, states FACTS about psychiatric drugs, and he becomes a nutcase.
Sure, celebs should just shut up and entertain but this is America; we all have the right to voice our opinions. Unfortunately, most of us can not do it on the today show.Posted by: Dean at 27 Jun 2005 15:18:57
Tom Cruise. Who cares what that toothy turd Tom Cruise thinks about ANYTHING?If the Today Show was doing an ethical and responsible job, it would cover what's really going on in this country,which is the blatant celebration of corporate greed over ethics, health care, poverty, education and peace, and spare us the yapping of idiots like Tom Cruise shoving a bad movie up our arses.
Posted by: pinky donovan at 27 Jun 2005 15:30:23
Can we get back to the real issue here?
I'm speaking, of course, about Tom's nose.
To paraphrase a great man, his wee head trembles under the responsibility of it.
Posted by: Joesus Christ at 27 Jun 2005 15:30:35
Tom Cruise may be one of my least favorite actors, but he can say whatever he wants. I also think that psychotropic drugs are taking the place of proper diet and exercise. You don't have to be a genius to see the link between kids not moving and kids getting depressed at age 8. ADD didn't exist when Tom and I were young. Our parents made us go outside and play. Of course, doctors know more than Tom freakin' Cruise. That's why this country rocks. Celebrities aren't doctors--ignore them if you don't want to listen to them. It's not that difficult. I may disagree with everything he says, but I will fight for his right to say it.
Posted by: Cynthia at 27 Jun 2005 15:30:51
Oh, and Scientology?
It's quackery, a cult, a scam, and a sham for bilking imbeciles like Cruise and Travolta.
And who cares what happens to Holmes? What these feebs won't do for a little publicity.
Posted by: Joesus Christ at 27 Jun 2005 15:31:48
It is sad when a formerly brilliant actor becomes a nutcase in less than six months. The funny part is Mr. Cruise is actually behaving like a child who has ADD or in his case ADHD.
What if all this time he has been on Ritilan (sp) and since changing publicists has been off of it? Wouldn't that explain the sudden mood swings the inablilty to finish a thought without repeating the same word at least three times and the jumping up and down on furniture during a nationally broadcast program? Everything about him is a complete 180 without any sense of responsibilty to facts or reason.
Kudos to John Travolta for NOT pushing this in our faces like Tom is doing. Never push a cause without being able to state the facts and be able to back them up and not by just saying "I have researched this and you have not. I know and you don't."
Scary statements from a scary person. The change in publicist was a bad idea.Posted by: mo at 27 Jun 2005 15:57:22
The average person will take what he says with a grain of salt. What worries me is the people who need these drugs might stop taking them because he is a movie star they might admire. When he talked about Brook Shields i was wondering when the last time was HE had a baby???
Posted by: Marlene Schwark at 27 Jun 2005 16:19:39
Total asshole
Posted by: Georgian at 27 Jun 2005 16:48:52
Sixty seconds of media, and most of us are ready to put Tom Cruise on Ritalin, as if we know anything about the man's private life. Disregarding Scientology for a moment, I agree with his take on psychotropic drugs. Most likely they do more harm than good in the majority of cases. Imagine panic and anxiety to be a condition of human life, properly ameliorated through culture, social life, and religion. When those are replaced by mindless consumerism, we are told to buy drugs instead, benefiting only the legal drug pushers.
Posted by: donovan at 27 Jun 2005 16:58:53
Xenu and the Clams _are_ genuinely out there--but don't forget that there's convoluted magical thinking at the heart of even the most mainstream of theisms. (Let's face it, we're talking about supersized imaginary friends who run the world.) I say, don't discourage the man! He hasn't been this amusing since LEGEND.
Posted by: Jeremy at 27 Jun 2005 17:02:03
The same psuedo "religious" groups were around in the days of Paul of Tarsus 2000 years ago...they fed upon their own egos and sense of vanity. Whereas St. Paul espoused feeding upon the Eucharist to nourish our souls and guide us though our lives. And no, one cannot be a Christian and a Scientologist, because they are diametrically opposed to each other! The wondrous miracles that God has given to us through medical research, is His healing gift to us who actually DO suffer with chemical imbalance. I can personally attest to that! Perhaps Tom would be well advised to do more research himself, the Bible would be a good start.
Posted by: Mary Ann at 27 Jun 2005 17:02:13
Mister Travolta - or Donovan, if you insist - as a paid apologist for Scientology, you should identify yourself truthfully.
Posted by: Joesus Christ at 27 Jun 2005 17:03:08
Oh, and Mary Ann, can one choose to be neither Scientologist nor Christian? Please?
Feel free to get back to me when you've asked the Skipper and Gilligan.
Posted by: Joesus Christ at 27 Jun 2005 17:05:17
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