Posted by
Chloe Taylor

Although he reached the half-a-century milestone this week – amidst the ongoing media frenzy over his latest relationship breakdown, we didn’t see much celebrating from a tormented looking Tom Cruise.

Appearing downright dejected jetting out of an Icelandic airport on his way back to California to commemorate the event, without his estranged wife, Katie Holmes or daughter Suri; both in New York, that famous killer smile and cocky boyishness seemed a million miles away.

So while we can’t judge the guy for not looking too gleeful, given the circumstances, we can’t help but be massively intrigued as to what’s going on in the Cruise inner circle at present.

Officially, in a press release issued after the split was announced, the Hollywood mega star is “…­­­­deeply saddened” and “…requesting privacy”. Privately, we’re willing to bet he’s going through a spectrum of emotions, deeply saddened being just one – hoppin’ mad likely being another – Katie is rumored to have partaken in a whole lot of sneaking around, arranging a new bachelorette pad for Suri and herself and don’t get us started on the alimony rumors.

So have we got much sympathy for Tom? Or just a whole lotta relief for Katie?

In a pairing that’s had some unsettling connotations from day one; usually coming squarely down to some decidedly unusual behavior and commentary from Mr Cruise himself, we’re still pretty dubious.

With rumors behind closed doors that Tom spent their whole marriage controlling Katie, other sources saying that the split was sprung on him unaware and he’s actually privately devastated, some calling his silence dignified, other’s conspicuous, leads us to the question – would the real Tom Cruise please stand up?

There’s been a mountain of attention on him recently and a lot has been made of his troubled childhood; an abusive father, experience of adolescent bullying, the impact of his mother’s move and a difficult relationship with his step-father all seem to have left their mark.

Although Tom seems to work hard to publicly embody the charming and affable persona he’s spent the last thirty years cultivating, sometimes – through his, often cringe-inducing, interview appearances, we see different and quite frankly, pretty sinister, flashes of his psyche at work; incongruous in nature with his carefully intentioned boyish charm.

This is a guy who criticized Brooke Shields for her use of happy-pills after a diagnosis of postnatal depression and in the same interview, declared her career to be effectively over. Nice. Who, during a heated debate about the merits of psychologist, psychiatrists and pharmaceutical intervention with Matt Lauer in 2005, hurled the insult ‘glib’ at him and heatedly declared “You don’t know the history of psychiatry! I do.” Simmer down Tom…

Both incidents are directly linked to his Scientology beliefs; of which he’s a passionate advocate, crediting it with transforming his life and telling Laeur, during the same interview that it; “…gives you tools you can use to apply to your life.”

Tom is famously unapologetic for his beliefs in Scientology, despite his vocal support for it and its practices believed to be directly linked to a fall in his popularity, telling Katie Couric duringatie Couric during an interview, – “…I can tell you that my personal experience with it, you know, I’ve been a Scientologist for going on, I guess 17 years. And it’s extraordinary, it’s extraordinary. And you know, you always have to look at someone who criticizes you, you have to look at them and say, okay, so? Who is that person? Why? What do they know? And I can tell you, you’re sitting in front of a Scientologist who knows. And I can tell you from my personal experience it’s been extraordinary for me. I wouldn’t be here where I am today without, you know, those things to help me out.”

Speculation flew over a malevolent stance towards Nicole Kidman following their separation amid rumors of her pregnancy and miscarriage at the end of their marriage, the two children they adopted during their marriage both chose to remain with Tom, although Nicole has refused to further muddy the waters and when recently questioned on developments – kept a tight-lipped silence – and helping with damage control on his nice-guy reputation.

We wouldn’t dare to try and categorize Tom; he’s a human being after all – we think,  although a certain Brit columnist did suggest; “….[he] never seemed to be an earthling, more an alien dropped from outer space, trying to appear normal but not quite succeeding”. Ouch. We know at least one thing for certain; for all his steely determinism, his charismatic stage persona and an indomitable, phoenix-like capacity to rise from the ashes – Tom Cruise’s ears must be feeling mighty hot at present.

Selma: Is that a bird? A plane? An Alien? No, it’s Tom Cruise.  The man who knows it all and won’t allow proven facts to change his mind.  Kind of ignoramus if you ask me.  Maybe it’s time he stopped this self centered ignorance because it has consequently resulted in numerous failed relationships. Learn how to compromise Tom, a relationship includes two people, if you are so hung up on yourself than marry yourself.  Tom, play this DiscoveryGame and gain some knowledge on how to compromise with your partner before you commit. 

Giulia: One thing that Tom needs to sort out before he moves any further is his communication skills. Why does everything need to be about Tom, his religion, his wants, his needs, his demands… enough! I recommend this DiscoveryGame for Tom to start learning how to communicate with his ladies!