# Why do people hate Tom Cruise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763 "2012-04-23T23:39:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/21 "2012-04-24T03:43:05Z")
Criticizing Brooke Shields - who at the time was courageous for opening up about her postpartum depression and needing antidepressants to get through it - for taking meds for her PPD, then saying there’s no such thing as a chemical imbalance, and IIRC recommending vitamins and Scientology to fix how she was feeling was a pretty douchey move, too. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/22 "2012-04-24T03:45:16Z")
I didn’t hate him until the glib Matt interview. Wanting to deny women medication because your crazy cult thinks their thetas will cure them or whatever crap they throw out of their volcano. Fuck you Tom and your stupid, greedy and dangerous religion. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/23 "2012-04-24T04:52:28Z")
During his early career, I always considered Tom Cruise to be a lightweight pretty-boy–not much different from Charlie Sheen, Rob Lowe, or any of the Brat Pack. I thought “Risky Business” was a fun enough movie, but so were “The Outsiders” and “Sixteen Candles”. “Top Gun” was a minor step up, but then he was suddenly cast in films opposite truly great actors: Paul Newman in “The Color of Money”, Dustin Hoffman in “Rainman”, Robert Duvall in “Days of Thunder”. And IMO his acting was nowhere near their caliber. Then he suddenly got a serious Oscar-bait role in “Born on the Fourth of July”. And, IMO, he just wasn’t worthy of it. It was as though someone in Hollywood just decided that–out of all the good-looking actors with equivalent talent and range–he was going to be the next Great American Actor. And he really isn’t; his range is more apt to actioners like the MI series, where I think he does just fine. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/24 "2012-04-24T13:38:36Z")
I hate his persona as a rich bastard know nothing trying to tell me how to deal with clinical depression without meds based on what some whacko sci-fi author who made up a “religion” said. Simple as that. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/25 "2012-04-24T13:44:58Z")
I’ve hated him since he first started getting starring roles. It was possible to ignore him in earlier movies because the lead actors still carried things. I’ve been forced to sit through a few of his movies over the years, mostly when dates wanted to see them, and I hated every one of them (the movies not the dates). I take a peculiar, pointless pride in never having seen Top Gun. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/26 "2012-04-24T13:49:07Z")
I agree with the general Tom-hatred of most of the other posters here, but I will point out that he _was_ funny in Tropic Thunder. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/27 "2012-04-24T14:33:55Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I hated him long before he became (known as, anyway) a Scientologist. My main reasons are: > > 1. Can’t act. “Mugging” is not acting. > 2. Unbelievably smug. > 3. Ruins at least one should-have-been-good movie per year. > 4. STILL can’t act! It’s been years, douchebag; take a class already! > 5. Fucked up a good thing with Nicole. +1 to all, especially #5 Don’t show your wife’s jubblies to the world. Have some class, Tommy Boy. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/28 "2012-04-24T15:16:50Z")
Alright, so scientology and a sense of undeserved success seems to be the consensus. With a touch of condescension. FWIW, I find him to be an able actor. His is a specific skill - carrying a tent-pole movie. He can act against a green screen and is (again, in my opinion) believably heroic. Because those skills are rare and expensive to test (see Ryan Reynolds), he is amply compensated. And because those specific movies require a massive PR effort, his mug is flashed around the world pretty much every summer. I could see how people get some ‘Tommy overload’. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/29 "2012-04-24T15:25:09Z")
He’s like Keanu’s asshole older brother. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/30 "2012-04-24T15:32:28Z")
He got to spend quality time with Mimi Rogers and I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/31 "2012-04-24T15:35:20Z")
I’m another who has chosen to boycott him over his stance on mental health issues, medications to treat such, and therapy. It’s one thing to be insular and cling to your cultish religion for yourself, and another to actively promote something that could vastly harm others and make them eschew the help they need all on your recommendation / disapproval. He’s an asshole and an idiot. But before all that, I appreciated some of his acting abilities. I especially liked his portrayal in Magnolia. Perhaps because it was so close to his true character. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/32 "2012-04-24T15:46:20Z")
I have no particular hatred for the mentally ill, though it was awkward and creepy when his main handler (Pat? someone) abruptly left, she was replaced by his sister, and he apparently went off his meds jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch. They seem to have gotten him under control and his career has picked up again. But the Scienos if not bad enough - what they have done to Katie Holmes and the daughter Suri - you would have to read stories and look at the tragic papparazzi pictures online to see what pathetic horrors they have become. All their photos are for publicity, they play at being a normal happy family just for the photo ops, and then get back in their car and disappear until its time for them to be photographed again. Katie Holmes is an unkempt, listless, dead-eyed basket case, lugging around an equally unkempt, undisciplined, terrified, feral looking 6 year old dressed in bizarre costumes, high heels, being pushed as a ‘fashionista’ (!), shown in winter with no coat or boots, dragged along into adult restaurants, concerts, and plays far into the night, no playmates or friends ever seen. It’s icky. And this is all a result of Scieno brainwashing. The three of them make me sick, but it’s big fake-grinning crazy Tom responsible for the travesty. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/33 "2012-04-24T16:02:25Z")
He’s a short fucker. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/34 "2012-04-24T16:09:19Z")
“the daughter Suri”… Is that the same Suri that people are always asking for advice from on their smart telephones? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/35 "2012-04-24T16:12:27Z")
Siri ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/36 "2012-04-24T16:19:27Z")
The same reason I can’t stand Kirk Cameron: it’s not just that I disagree with his religious beliefs (I disagree with lots of people that I like or at least respect as people) but the fact he has such an “I believe this therefore that’s the way it is. There’s no reason to read any books or take any courses because I am infallible, and if you don’t see that you’re an idiot or brainwashed” anti intellectualism from an overindulged git who probably couldn’t pass a quarter at a community college if they tried but think they have the knowledge and the wisdom to tell others how to live. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/37 "2012-04-24T16:37:01Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > +1 to all, especially #5 Don’t show your wife’s jubblies to the world. Have some class, Tommy Boy. …now what happened now? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/38 "2012-04-24T16:40:37Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > He got to spend quality time with Mimi Rogers and I didn’t. If it makes you feel any better, it may not have been all that quality, at least for her. I don’t so much mind ol’ Tom. Thought he did a great job in _Night of the Smirking Parrot_, which is probably better known by its release title _Eyes Wide Shut_. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/39 "2012-04-24T16:45:12Z")
Didn’t he also tell his wife that she couldn’t make any noise during childbirth? I seem to recall him cheerfully discussing it during an interview…it was supposed to keep some cosmic thingy from acting on the child? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763/40 "2012-04-24T16:51:41Z")
I don’t hate him, but I kinda find him smarmy. Regarding Scientology, he’s kind of a victim of it, isn’t he? Seems wrong to hate someone for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-hate-tom-cruise/619763.md?page=3)