# Boycotting Tom Cruise **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795 "2008-12-11T23:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/1 "2008-12-11T23:51:31Z")
I’ve seen in mentioned in a couple of threads on here over the last couple of days that some members refuse to see (or at least refuse to PAY to see) any Tom Cruise movie. What is all the hate about? One doper referred to him as a $cientologist, but otherwise there wasn’t much elaboration as to reasons. The guy has seemed a bit off his rocker the last couple years when off-screen, however unlike some people who get boycotted in the entertainment industry, he hasn’t or isn’t out to hurt anyone, as far as I know, and doesn’t even push his agendas into any of his movies. Would the same thing be said for dopers who don’t want to see a certain actor’s movie because he’s a ¢hristian? Rather than speculate further, I’d just like to hear your reasonings. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/2 "2008-12-11T23:56:47Z")
His blanket condemnation of psychiatry, dismissing disorders like post-partum depression, along with his claims that only Scientology can help anyone with any sort of mental illness has caused some people to not seek help for their mental disorders. That’s a significant black mark in my book. And if a famous Unitarian actor said the same, I’d hold it against him, also. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/3 "2008-12-12T00:00:43Z")
He’s a crazy. [I believe this youtube video will explain a bit of it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0_AO1wsGDE) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/4 "2008-12-12T00:15:25Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > His blanket condemnation of psychiatry, dismissing disorders like post-partum depression, along with his claims that only Scientology can help anyone with any sort of mental illness has caused some people to not seek help for their mental disorders. > > That’s a significant black mark in my book. And if a famous Unitarian actor said the same, I’d hold it against him, also. This is a pretty good summary of my thoughts of him. I refuse to see any of his movies, even if they’re on TV. It’s not like I actually LOVE any of his flicks, so it’s just a matter of flipping to something else on a bored Sunday afternoon. I just refuse to give him any money, or contribute to any sort of popularity he might enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/5 "2008-12-12T00:19:40Z")
He flipped his Froot Loop a while back. Plus I don’t think he’s a very good actor. He was eye candy in the 80’s and early 90’s. I’m happy that Nicole got away. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/6 "2008-12-12T00:30:35Z")
I agree with Qadgop the Mercotan’s comments upthread, but I think if a \*great actor \*was equally odd as Tom Cruise, we’d shrug it off and go see his/her movies anyway. But with Cruise, it’s not like you are missing good films. There’s no harm in boycotting him. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/7 "2008-12-12T01:07:22Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > His blanket condemnation of psychiatry, dismissing disorders like post-partum depression, along with his claims that only Scientology can help anyone with any sort of mental illness has caused some people to not seek help for their mental disorders. Not to turn this into a Great Debate, but how is that different from countless celebrity voices who say that you have to turn to God/The Bible for help in anything that’s ruining your day? I agree, he’s not a great actor, but it still seems silly to actively avoid one of his movies just because he’s an idiot. Infact, anybody who is taking health advice from an ACTOR is an even bigger idiot… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/8 "2008-12-12T01:10:38Z")
It’s not that he’s an idiot; it’s that he’s a Scientologist. That means I will go out of my way to make sure he and the rest of those criminals never get a cent from me in any way. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/9 "2008-12-12T01:28:25Z")
It’s those ignorant comments of his about psychiatry & drugs used to help people with mental illnes - that’s what turned me against him. And those comments come straight from the Scientology cult, not from any academic study. He won’t get any money from me either, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/10 "2008-12-12T02:17:35Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Not to turn this into a Great Debate, but how is that different from countless celebrity voices who say that you have to turn to God/The Bible for help in anything that’s ruining your day? > > I agree, he’s not a great actor, but it still seems silly to actively avoid one of his movies just because he’s an idiot. Infact, anybody who is taking health advice from an ACTOR is an even bigger idiot… Tom Cruise is a very very good, if not great actor. People are missing out on a lot of great movies if they avoid his. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/11 "2008-12-12T02:23:28Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s not that he’s an idiot; it’s that he’s a Scientologist. That means I will go out of my way to make sure he and the rest of those criminals never get a cent from me in any way. Do you do the same for Catholic actors? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/12 "2008-12-12T02:29:32Z")
My actor boycott slot is currently occupied by Jane Fonda. When she dies, I may open the door to new candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/13 "2008-12-12T02:33:14Z")
I’m not going to see Valkyrie for the simple reasons that 1- I know how it ends (not good) 2- From the previews it seems to romanticize von Stauffenberg (a man who hated Hitler enough to kill him… after Hitler started losing the war) 3- Even if I liked von Stauffenberg I’d dread seeing him played as a middle aged angry young man (which is all Cruise seems to know how to play) I don’t think I’ve seen a TC movie since Austin Powers 3 (and that was of course a cameo), though I’ve heard COLLATERAL is good. Not a boycott so much as In don’t like Tom Cruise. I saw HAIRSPRAY and watch CHEERS in spite of Scientologist members, and MY NAME IS EARL is probably more Scientologists per square inch than this side of L. Ron’s yacht but it’s one of my favorite shows, so the religion itself I’ve no great problem with. Cruise himself though is definitely Mel Gibson wallerin’ around in his own feces bonkers, and because he’s of medium talent at best you can’t forget “that’s Tom Cruise”, so it affects suspension of disbelief. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/14 "2008-12-12T02:35:32Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Do you do the same for Catholic actors? I don’t need to. I like Catholics. I loathe Scientologists. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/15 "2008-12-12T03:01:29Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > Tom Cruise is a very very good, if not great actor. People are missing out on a lot of great movies if they avoid his. Like Jules said, "Hey, sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie, but I’d never know 'cause I wouldn’t eat the filthy motherfucker. " I can live without Tom Cruise movies, no matter how good they are. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/16 "2008-12-12T03:05:39Z")
I haven’t liked Tom Cruise in anything since ‘Risky Business’. I think he’s a terrible actor, and I can’t understand why he keeps getting cast. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/17 "2008-12-12T03:10:31Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Not to turn this into a Great Debate, but how is that different from countless celebrity voices who say that you have to turn to God/The Bible for help in anything that’s ruining your day? Christians as a group do not believe that psychiatric help is sinful/worthless/a fraud. They may believe that turning God can help, but that part of that help is delivered via professionals and medications. In other words, the two are nothing alike. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/18 "2008-12-12T03:25:04Z")
This thread already shows that acting is strongly subjective. Yeah he is a bit of of a nut job, but he can act. Can anyone say that he sucked in Rain Man, or A Few Good Men? If so than I don’t know jack about movies. Even though I hate what he represents I can admit he is a good actor. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/19 "2008-12-12T03:34:45Z")
Regarding people of faith, I don’t care what you think as long as you’re not a egotistical dick about it. He said some pretty offensive and ridiculous things. I happen to be quite familiar with mental illness and it’s treatments, but Jason Lee didn’t keep me from watching Earl, the last season did. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/20 "2008-12-12T03:39:38Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > This thread already shows that acting is strongly subjective. Yeah he is a bit of of a nut job, but he can act. > > Can anyone say that he sucked in Rain Man, or A Few Good Men? If so than I don’t know jack about movies. > > Even though I hate what he represents I can admit he is a good actor. Saw both of those movies - hated him. Entirely my opinion, and I don’t hold it against anyone else who liked him, but seeing him try to keep up to Dustin Hoffman or Jack Nicholson was just sad. That’s around when I gave up on him totally. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795.md?page=2)