Tom Cruise, best known for his work in iconic film franchises like ‘Mission Impossible’ and ‘Top Gun’, is adored by fans and celebrities alike for his good looks, his acting abilities, and his commitment to doing his own stunts. Not just his fans but several celebrities like David Beckham, Dakota Fanning, and Zac Efron have time and again expressed their admiration for the actor.
However, Tom Cruise is also infamous for the several controversies he has been mired in over the years. Shockingly enough, the list of controversies also includes backlash over laughing while recounting an anecdote where he restricted a passenger’s oxygen during a flight. For reasons like this, there are many celebrities who have simply refused to work or be associated with Cruise and his movies. Here’s the list of such celebrities and why they have decided to keep Cruise at an arm’s length.
Related: “Spectacle” Quentin Tarantino Praises Tom Cruise’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Brad Pitt
It is no breaking news that Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise aren’t exactly fond of each other. The very public feud between the two has been going on for 25 years now. The two actors shared the screen in the hit horror movie ‘Interview With A Vampire‘ back in 1994 and their differences became evident since. In an infamous interview, Pitt held no bars while expressing how he feels about Cruise.
“He bugged me. There came a point during filming when I started really resenting him,” Pitt said of Cruise during the interview, adding, “He’s North Pole, I’m South.” As if this wasn’t enough, Brad also had some pretty harsh things to say about Tom’s movies. In 2009, both actors starred in World War II dramas and while Brad’s ‘Inglorious Bastards‘ did well at the box office, Tom’s ‘Valkyrie‘ couldn’t quite achieve the same feat. Pitt didn’t shy away from celebrating his archrival’s bitter failure by calling it a “ridiculous movie.”
From the looks of it, it won’t be a stretch to say that the two actors are highly unlikely to be a part of the same project in the near future.
Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes once made headlines for being one of Hollywood’s most gorgeous and talked about couples. Their relationship had it all; from dramatic public declarations of love to not being able to keep their hands off each other on red carpets. However, much to fans’ and media houses’ disappointment, the duo filed for divorce after six years of marriage.
While the real reasons behind their split are still nothing but speculations, it is believed that Tom’s horrible treatment of his ex-wife and even their daughter was what pushed Katie to get out of the marriage. This claim can be cemented by reports that Cruise tried to impose bizarre rules on Holmes like how she shouldn’t be allowed to date another man publicly for five years so as to not “embarrass him”.
Given such hostility and a messy end to a long-term relationship, it is a no-brainer that these two stars won’t be appearing together on screen — not now and perhaps not ever.
Brooke Shields
Tom Cruise has never shied away from speaking his mind and he certainly didn’t shy away when in 2005, he told Access Hollywood that actress Brooke Shields’ use of antidepressants in her battle against postpartum depression is “irresponsible”. The ‘Mission Impossible 7’ actor is a well-known Scientologist who swears off any kind of ‘mind-altering’ medication including antidepressants. This very belief pushed him to share his unsolicited opinions against Brooke.
While he did mention that she is an incredibly talented woman, it did not save him from receiving backlash from fans, media and Shields herself. Brooke reportedly responded by saying, “Tom should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them.”
The duo has previously worked together in the 1981 romance drama ‘Endless Love’, but it seems like it was their first and last film together thanks to their strong disapproval of each other.
In case you missed it: Tom Cruise Is Aiming For An Oscar With Non-Action Movies After Signing Deal With Warner Bros.
John Travolta
John Travolta and Tom Cruise have something in common and it’s not just their field of work. They are both staunch believers of Scientology. However, this common link has become the cause of a bitter rift between the two. If sources are to be believed, Travolta is immensely jealous of Cruise’s position in the Church of Scientology and also the fact that he is also one of the very few members of the religion who has access to David Miscavige, the Scientology chief.
Brendan Tighe, a former member of the church told New Idea, “Cruise is the only celebrity with a direct line to Miscavige. It’s no secret that Cruise and Travolta despise each other.” For an industry well known for rivalries stemming from jealousy over snubbed movie roles and scandalous affairs, this is certainly a fresh and interesting addition.
With their strong dislike of each other making headlines, it is easy to guess that the two Scientologists would like to keep as far away from each other as possible and this includes not appearing in a film together.
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg has openly spoken about his dislike of the ‘Top Gun’ star. This comes after certain comments by Tom seriously offended him. In 2013, Tom compared his nature of work for a new action movie to being as intense as “fighting in Afghanistan”. Later the same year, Wahlberg addressed these controversial remarks by adding a few of his own.
“For actors to sit there and talk about ‘Oh I went to SEAL training’ and I slept on the…I don’t give a f*** what you did. You don’t do what these guys did,” Wahlberg said without mentioning any names but clearly referring to Cruise.
Cruise and Wahlberg had never worked together in the past and after this public showdown, it’s easy to guess that they never will.
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