# 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:** 6
**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 14, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/101 "2008-12-14T06:06:24Z")
Short response, JT: Yes, Brooke Shields can be criticized. for her acting, whatever. However what Cruise said about her (that she should not have used drugs in treating her depression) was seriously out-of-line. Nutjobs who believe in scientology have no place diagnosing people with mental illnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/102 "2008-12-14T06:08:35Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > [were.](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050628/REVIEWS/50606007) :dubious: That’s just one review. You can probably find a negative review for every movie ever released. The review_ **s** _ were, in general, pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/103 "2008-12-14T06:24:34Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > Short response, JT: Yes, Brooke Shields can be criticized. for her acting, whatever. However what Cruise said about her (that she should not have used drugs in treating her depression) was seriously out-of-line. Nutjobs who believe in scientology have no place diagnosing people with mental illnesses. Brooke Shields originally wrote a book about it, making it a public issue herself, and therefore should have expected commentary that would include countering opinions. The source (Tom Cruise) is surprising, but the fact that somebody said “yes, but…” shouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/104 "2008-12-14T06:49:33Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > How does Scientology hurt _you_? Anyone with a lick of sense wouldn’t share its views. I don’t see Scientology commercials on TV or ads in the newspapers or magazines that I read. In fact, the only time I would come across Scientology is if I’d be actively seeking it out. They do advertise. I see a “Dianetics” infomercial on late night TV fairly frequently. Recently they’ve had a commercial on the Rachal Maddow Show. Oh, of course it’s not for the “Church of Scientology”. They know that isn’t selling too well any more. This one was billed as [“The Way to Happiness”](http://www.thewaytohappiness.org/#/home). It was a very slick ad, and unless you actually checked who owned the site (LHR Publications) you’d never connect it to the Co$. The Co$ has literally [hundreds of front organizations.](http://www.lermanet.com/frontgroups.html) What legitimate religion hides their identity via front groups? Do you hire a group of business consultants only to find them wanting to circumcise your employees or having them praying in the direction of Mecca five times a day? ---
**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 14, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/105 "2008-12-14T07:11:07Z")
Again, JohnT, the point I was trying to make: criticize Ms. Shields’ book, or her writing style, fine. Criticize her decision to take antidepressants - not so fine. Telling her she could have treated her condition with vitamins or some such - ridiculous. and with that I’m out of this discussion. I think it’s too personal for me. ---
**Author:** ![palacheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@palacheck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palacheck)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/106 "2008-12-14T23:09:56Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > They do advertise. I see a “Dianetics” infomercial on late night TV fairly frequently. Recently they’ve had a commercial on the Rachal Maddow Show. Oh, of course it’s not for the “Church of Scientology”. They know that isn’t selling too well any more. This one was billed as [“The Way to Happiness”](http://www.thewaytohappiness.org/#/home). It was a very slick ad, and unless you actually checked who owned the site (LHR Publications) you’d never connect it to the Co$. > > The Co$ has literally [hundreds of front organizations.](http://www.lermanet.com/frontgroups.html) What legitimate religion hides their identity via front groups? Do you hire a group of business consultants only to find them wanting to circumcise your employees or having them praying in the direction of Mecca five times a day? Huh? Have you looked into this organization using anything other than anti-Co$ websites? Every single book and program put out by $cientology makes it absolutely clear that it was authored or designed by LRH. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/107 "2008-12-15T06:34:33Z")
> [@palacheck](#): > > Huh? Have you looked into this organization using anything other than anti-Co$ websites? I [checked the owner of the domain](http://reports.internic.net/cgi/whois?whois_nic=thewaytohappiness.org&type=domain) and found the name servers are at [LRH.org](http://LRH.org). Which is, of course [owned by the Co$](http://reports.internic.net/cgi/whois?whois_nic=lrh.org&type=domain). I didn’t look at any anti-COS sites before verifying this information, because the commercial, though very slick, looked like their spiel. > [@](#): > > Every single book and program put out by $cientology makes it absolutely clear that it was authored or designed by LRH. Sorry, but they have a ton of stuff that hides any connection to the CoS, Dianetics, or L. Ron Hubbard. Eventually they reveal it, but they hope they have you hooked by that time (sort of the way the Narnia books soft-peddled the Christianity). ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/108 "2008-12-15T07:04:21Z")
I spend almost no time thinking about Tom Cruise. I don’t rate him that highly as an actor and I find his religions beliefs to be laughable. That said, there seems to be a tremendous amount of vitirol for the man yet someone like Roman Pulanski’s works aren’t boycotted. Pulanski after all just raped a girl and absconded from justice. He continues to flaut American law by refusing to return to the US. Still, he gets nominated for an oscar and that’s ok? Sorry, Cruise is a twit but I wouldn’t spend much effort boycotting him. Now Pulanski, he’s a #$\*@4 degenerate whose movies I will never watch. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/109 "2008-12-15T08:33:29Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Sorry, Cruise is a twit but I wouldn’t spend much effort boycotting him. Now Pulanski, he’s a #$\*@4 degenerate whose movies I will never watch. So you have to wait until Cruise harms his child with Co$ medical malpractice to make the call? He wanted his wife to deliver the child without medication and in silence. The guy is giving money and support to this cult. He is harming more children then Pulanski ever will. ---
**Author:** ![nootlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/49beb7/32.png) [@nootlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nootlin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/110 "2008-12-15T12:25:31Z")
> [@](#): > > So you have to wait until Cruise harms his child with Co$ medical malpractice to make the call? Sounds like something out of Minority Report 😉 I’m a fan. And I think some of what he thinks about drugs is sensible. Many people too readily pop to cure. Of course, I also believe that some illnesses need drugs, that drugs can help, and that things such as post-natal depression are very real. Putting yourself in a happy place just doesn’t cut the biscuit. All in all I don’t like any religion, old or new. What I do like to do is to think for myself. I enjoy Tom Cruise movies, and therefore I’d like to call cite on those claiming my theatre/DVD money ends up in the hands of the heads of Scientology. That didn’t take me long! [In brief: Cruise donates £2m to Scientology | Movies | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2005/nov/02/news4) Roman Polanski, Michael Jackson, Tyson, Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, they’re all messed up dudes privately. I pity them, but I don’t pit their output. Maybe I should…? ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/111 "2008-12-15T20:45:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > So you have to wait until Cruise harms his child with Co$ medical malpractice to make the call? He wanted his wife to deliver the child without medication and in silence. The guy is giving money and support to this cult. He is harming more children then Pulanski ever will. I doubt that. We know that Pulanski raped a child. Cruise may be an idiot but I think it would make more sense to get worked up about Pulanski than Cruise. If anything, the further exposure Cruise gets the more ridiculous he becomes. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/112 "2008-12-15T20:51:58Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > So you have to wait until Cruise harms his child with Co$ medical malpractice to make the call? He wanted his wife to deliver the child without medication and in silence. Is there actually any direct evidence of this? And shit, “natural” childbirth - childbirth without medication - is all the rage. I think it’s insane too, but singling out Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes seems a little strange. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/113 "2008-12-15T20:54:57Z")
Y’all _are_ talking about the film director Roman **PO** lanski, right? Just making sure. Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/114 "2008-12-15T21:06:42Z")
Yep, Polanski. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/115 "2008-12-16T07:45:44Z")
> [@jali](#): > > Have the boycotters all stopped watching “The Simpsons”? Refuse to contribute to **Elvis’** estate? No South Park? > Do you I just got done watching South Park rip Co$ a new one. I can see why Isacc Hays left the show. when he left they turned his character into a possessed child molestor and then killed him off. When they kill off a character they don’t mess around. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/116 "2008-12-16T14:47:50Z")
Cruise must have a new PR person. He made the rounds at the Today show and joked around about his previous stint there. Now he just wants to talk about his movies, not Scientology. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/117 "2008-12-16T15:59:33Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > He may put asses in the seats but so does the [Undertaker](http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/undertaker/photographs/outsidetheringphotos/) on the WWF. The difference between the 2 actors is that one of them can do his own stunts. The Undertaker doesn’t do his own stunts? ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/118 "2008-12-16T16:02:28Z")
Anyone have that clip where Tom gets sprayed with water during a red carpet event and totally lectures the pranker? It’s priceless. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/119 "2008-12-16T16:53:04Z")
I think he’s a jerk in real life, and he’s not a good enough actor to convince me he’s not the man he is in real life. Hence, I can’t enjoy Tom Cruise’s movies. For me, it’s not a boycott, it’s just that every time he walks on screen I think “Oh, it’s that jerk again.” ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795/120 "2008-12-16T17:13:23Z")
Cruise isn’t just a Scientologist, he’s a spokesman and a major figure in the cult. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycotting-tom-cruise/476795.md?page=5)