tom is a big boy he shouldn't need people to defend him... by the way the book is number 1 on the new york bestseller list

Wasn't Adam Sandler mentioned in one of those videos?

Nope. Many celebs who know him firsthand seem to like him a lot.

Maybe they are all afraid of Xenu´s wrath...

whats the old saying, you don't really know someone until you live with them

It doesn't surprise me he has people defending him. I just hope they aren't attacking the Jerry O'Connell video. Now, that is hilarious. I forwarded it to all of my friends, who thought it was equally hilarious.

i'm not surprised at all that so many people are trying to support him. he's really a great guy who's passionate about things now. i think that once the nicole thing broke up - he became even more stalked and now people look for anything that they can find that's less than great. he doesn't deserve it and i'm glad that hollywood is trying to support him.

He's one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. He's not just some measly actor, he has a lot of influence and clout in that industry and people will stand behind that.

meh, who cares

scientologists unite! Go Go Power Rangers

I don't see how it's "sickening", if people mock those videos. Nobody forced Tom to say all these things and just as he had the right to say them, we have the right to criticise them.

Concerning those other celebs, it seems to me like they (or at least most of them) were actually asked to comment, not as if they themselves came to Tom's defence. Dustin Hoffman for example is quoted as saying: "Tom Cruise is an American and has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion."
Seems like a pretty generic statement to me...

I'm a little surprised. Tom's still pretty powerful in Hollywood, but I didn't expect so many people to jump to his defense. And like Madchen said, no one forced him to say those things.

we didn't hear anyone sticking up for him during his couch jumping period. it's "in" again to support tom.

No, he co-owns a movie studio and is still very powerful. Plus maybe these people knew him back when he had his great PR lady, and so they only know the public/work face of him.

they're scared Xenu will get them

I don't know why we should be surprised. These are his actual friends who know who the real Tom is so why wouldn't they come to his defense? I don't agree with a lot things he says but nonetheless, he doesn't deserve getting ripped to shreds by the media for being passionate about his beliefs. It must be really frustrating to his friends to see this happening to what they know to be a good person so it doesn't surprise me one bit that they are speaking out. It's getting really ridiculous.

I don't like him at all. He has that fake cute smile, has changed Katie, is boring...Argh! The only good thing that he has done is Suri, the cutest lil' girl ever.

They can chose to defend him all they want, that doesn't make Tom any less creepy or make his recently exposed videos any less bizarre. Tom's words and actions speak for themselves.

And Madchens right, some of the support has been taken out of context (what else is new?) and I agree with Dustin's statement, Tom has a right "to freedom of speech and freedom of religion". That same "freedom of speech" gives me the right to say that Tom's behaviour is not only pompous and obnoxious but disturbing.

He still ace

I think they're scared (except Travolta, he's a scientolocrazy too)

I don't see how it's relevant to anything. I hear about Tom Cruise just about every other day, whether his personal life, or his religion, or his manic episode on Oprah's couch, and frankly, I don't want to hear anymore.

I don't understand what the big deal is. He's a celebrity, sure, but at the heart of it, he's still just some guy doing his job.

I wouldn't be surprised if he paid people to defend him (or support the Psychotology cause). But like Elizabeth said, most of the people defending him are Psychos too.

It doesn't surprise me. What surprises me is how easily itcomes to so many people to make fun of one's beliefs. We sure have come a long way

I think Scientology is a strange belief system, but I'm not willing to start defining people based on their religious/spiritual beliefs. It's a slippery slope.

I am. I mean, common, it's Tom Cruise! How can you defend him after his crazy antics

Most of the time, celebs treat other celebs very well...after all "you are a "special person" just like me!".

However, I think it says more about a persons character how they treat EVERYONE, not just people that share their same level of success. I have heard many stories over the years that he is not kind to staff, to crew, to production staff, etc.

I have actually heard the exact opposite, Jillness. But who knows - certainly neither of us.

Tom Cruise is creepy and his pushing of the wacko-religion Scientology is irresponsible and dangerous. I don't care what John Travolta or Adam Sandler say. Just because they make movies doesn't mean they know their a$$es from their elbows.

hes so weird...
i cant handle it.

I'm with the "folks are scared of Xenu" crowd. Cruise and the church are not only very religious but also VERY litigious. (heehee, channeling jesse jackson). You really don't want to burn bridges in Tinseltown.

was he really trying to push scientology? i mean it's just a video that got released online. like yeah he's a little intense, doesn't mean we have to say he's evil. a lot could be said of other religions. and if you're really someone's friend, then you'll support them. and he seems like a nice enough decent guy, just a little religious intense.

It goes without saying that Tom has as much right to his own beliefs as the next guy. However, those beliefs are just as open to scrutiny as the next guy's also. This man has gone on video saying that he wants everyone who doesn't believe in what he believes to one day only be read about "in history books". To me that particular stance is a bit scary & goes far beyond a simple religious belief. If nothing more, he's an egotistical jerk (see statement that Scientologists are the ONLY people who can help at accident scenes... I guess Tommy means that if his loved ones were in an accident, skip calling the paramedics & call John Travolta instead?"). Religion aside, his comments on that video are just insane & horribly offensive.

NOT at all surprised. I've met him and he's a very kind individual. Of course his friends are going to support him and defend him. Plus, I don't understand why everyone hates him? So what if he jumped on a couch, at least he hasn't been to rehab 4 times in one year. So what if his religion/beliefs are different? This is America, we have the freedom to believe in what we want (or so I thought). He hasn't hurt anyone, he's never been arrested, never been to rehab, never said a racial slur like so many other celebrities. Just let him live his life, it's his life and his choices. And I support that.

Ever since Tom Cruise joined that wacko-religion Scientology has become sort of creepy =XX.

I don't like him because he wants to put his ethics in me.

No, I am not surprised. Friends don't bail out on friends. I guess they are true friendships in Hollywood.

I don't like anyone who thinks they are better than anyone because of their religion. That's a very superficial statement but it's true any way you can construe it. Live and let live, brothaaa

xoxo

Let's face it - they're all afraid of him and the Church of Sciencefiction. It's a very wealthy and powerful organization. Maybe when he's over the hill and can't get roles and his movies stop making money, people will stop defending him.

ps - who would be surprised about John Travolta? He's probably a freedom medal of valor recipient himself...

Well, youse yanks are all nuts anyway (I'm kidding!) but I'm always interested to hear what very down to earth British actors who've worked with him say. Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead said he really loved working with Tom and thought he was great, and the Beckhams seem really to like them and Victoria is no one's fool. I love Tom, always have, but it's nice to see people defending him from the more shrill claims about his family, the speculation that people who can't possibly know, love.

I've heard the same Jillness. And this man REALLY scares me. His laughter makes me grin my teeth every time.

I am surprised because he is to out spoken about medical issues. He is not a doctor or scientist.

*grind.

I'm not really surprised. Scientologist or not, he does have influence in Hollywood. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be such a wise for any celeb to call Cruise crazy, or whatever. It never looks nice when you talk bad about any other actor - in front of the media. I don't know what celebs do when they're talking to their friends. Certainly, they're gossiping as much as the rest of us.

I personally still think Cruise is nuts, and Scientology is dangerous, but who's asking me?! *shrug*

Modegirl- I agree. He's not hurting anyone, why is there this frenzy to bash him? He seems nice and obviously loves his family- who am I to attack his belief system?

"he doesn't deserve getting ripped to shreds by the media for being passionate about his beliefs."

But is it OK when that happens to Mel Gibson?

Tom has money. Money = might. Might=right.

Some other celebrities feel the same "Hey if someone can take his Tom Cruise for ridiculous behavior and statements then they can come after me for the same. I better back him up."

And some obliviously don't feel that way.

I don't care what Tom believes in he is a great actor and I respect him. Everyone is entitled to believe in whatever they want and if I could I would go to a scientology meeting just to see how it is and to be open about it and learn from it.

GO TOM!!!

In a way i am because they make it seam as though he is this big bully no one can speak bad about..... what up with that
but then again they are all in the same business, why not stand up for one another?

Padraigin: "he doesn't deserve getting ripped to shreds by the media for being passionate about his beliefs."

But is it OK when that happens to Mel Gibson?"

No, Mel Gibson can believe in what he chooses to believe as well ------ accept he may actually want to try to walk his talk and not demean women by calling them sexist names and he might want to try to not make racial slurs about the African American community and the Jewish community!!!!!!!!!!

DaniCe - Couldn't agree more!!!

Designergirl - Absolutely agree with you, who are any of us, in a society where we elected Bush for two terms (which shows that perhaps American's aren't the smartest individuals right now lol), to judge someone else for their belief system? Tom can believe in what he wants. He hasn't hurt anyone, he never has. It's America, he can have his own beliefs just as I have my own spiritual beliefs.

Plus, just on a side note, the "scientology video" was NOT for public consumption, it was primarily for the church, for the church members. Just as any other religion has "religious channels" or religion videos that are geared for marketing towards members of a specific church.