You Won't Believe What These Celebs Said About Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise may be one of the biggest box office draws in the world, but behind the scenes? The reviews are... mixed.
Some co-stars think he's a dedicated actor. Others think he's a control freak in platform shoes. And a few have been very, very public about their contempt. Here's what they've actually said:
Richard Harris
Richard Harris, a man who did not care for Hollywood niceties, was brutal:
"Tom Cruise is a midget, and he has eight bodyguards, all [6 feet, 10 inches], which makes him even more diminutive. It's an absolute joke. Actors are unimportant."
He also mocked Cruise's red carpet habits, saying while he'd be drinking vodka at a premiere, Cruise would be sipping Evian. The message was clear: Cruise took himself way too seriously.
Brad Pitt, Cruise's Interview with the Vampire co-star, was more diplomatic—but not exactly warm:
"You gotta understand, Tom and I are... we walk in different directions. He's North Pole. I'm South."
He described a constant "underlying competition" that "got in the way of any real conversation," and admitted it "bugged [him] a bit." The awkward hug-handshake mess at Pitt's own movie premiere didn't help. They haven't worked together since the '90s—and that's not a coincidence.
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley didn't mince words when talking about her brush with Cruise during her Scientology years:
"I f***ing hate Tom. I met him 20 years ago. I said I never want to be in a room with him again."
Presley joined Scientology as a child, was groomed as a public-facing recruiter after her inheritance, and later credited the church with helping destroy her marriage to Michael Jackson. She walked out after decades. Her feelings toward Cruise? Still glowing red.
Leah Remini
Leah Remini left Scientology in 2013 and has been tearing it down ever since. Cruise, naturally, is on her hit list:
"Tom Cruise knows exactly what goes on in Scientology. Don't let the movie star charm fool you."
She also claimed Cruise and Katie Holmes ditched their crying daughter Suri right before their wedding—an anecdote that made it into her book, Troublemaker. When asked how Cruise would respond to her accusations, Remini told Larry King: "He wouldn't say anything to me, because he thinks I'm the devil."
John Travolta never said anything directly—but the tension was real. According to former Scientologist Brendan Tighe:
- Cruise has a direct line to church leader David Miscavige.
- Travolta does not—and didn't appreciate being pushed aside.
- Cruise was showered with gifts: a private airplane hangar, custom motorcycles, and more.
- Travolta was "unbelievably envious" when Cruise received Scientology's highest award, the Freedom Medal of Valor, in 2008.
And finally, in case you're wondering what Tom Cruise himself has to say when asked about his estranged daughter or personal life, here's one of his actual quotes:
"Hey, just having fun, man. Making movies, big adventure, having a great time."
— via YouTube, when asked about Father's Day
The smile never drops. But not everyone's buying the charm.