There is a whole chapter on Tom in my forthcoming tome :
Diary of A Nobody 2.Charles Pooter Returns in Brush With Fame.

Tom is a dear friend of mine so much so that I once spoke to him for nearly 2 minutes. It was when I was being given a lift by a good pal who was Sydney's top paparazzi and he sudden;y spotted Tom driving a BMW near Kings Cross and began following him.

Amazingly Tom also spotted us on his tail (the pap's number plate SNAPPA may have been a giveaway) and pulled his car over and got out and started walking back to our car.

"You get out and talk to him" my pal said.."he'll just go mad on me" so I did.

Tom was extremely pleasant and basically said "oh come on guys give me a break..I'm going to see some friends in a hotel..can't I have a bit of peace".

I responded "of course, I'm just a mere passenger and told my friend just that. I shall tell him off soundly. Most uncivilized and so rude of him". "Thanks" said Tom and drove off.

However another friend drove by..it was a busy street, and phoned that afternoon and said " I can't believe my eyes..I swear I saw you talking to Mega Star Tom Cruise by the side of the road"

"Quite true" I replied. "Tom spotted me and pulled over for a chat..very old friends from way back before he became famous. I 'm probably responsible for his stellar career (I buy cinema tickets ) etc etc, yadda yadda blah blah blah.

Word spread and soon the town was aware that I was a close friend of the 5.7" Superstar (we were head to head ) and soon publicists began phoning to see if I could get my dear pal Tom along as a guest at their next event. " I'll try my best" I would say "and I'll be there in case he turns up and needs a pal to have a champers with". Worked for a good year.

The point is..we heard so many rumours about Tom on the set and how fierce he is with the crew and demands absolute obedience & complete privacy. He always had several bodyguards and no crew member or member of the public (except for moi) could get near him.

Ghastly tabloids were pretty nasty about this but in light of recent dramas where actors & celebrities have had careers completely destroyed or been jailed on unproved accusations (JK ?) I now understand exactly why he is like this.
Tom Cruise was arguably way ahead of his time and anticipated the terrors that were to come.

And the destruction continues.

# He did buy me dinner once. I spotted the same paparazzi with 3 others outside a Kings Cross Thai restaurant run by possibly the world's most superb Thai chef famous Peter Thompson of London & Bangkok's Nahm eateries. It was Toms' favorite while he was living in Sydney with Nicole (another dear friend who told me to "piss orf" once when she mistook for someone else.

I stopped to chat just as a waited emerged to say Cruise would buy all the paps dinner if they left him alone so naturally we all trotted inside to order up big. I swear he smiled at me. It could have been a grimace.

# a few weeks later a pub owner pal smuggled me in to a "buck's party Tom was at for Nicole's sister's fiance. I even played pool with Tom and beat him as he was crap (and I'm pretty bad). He didn't recognise me
But you have to buy the book to read that riveting tale.

The man is dangerous and corrupt. His best friend is Daviid Miscavage, Head of the church of scientology. A cult that tears families apart, charges people $100,000s for their courses and books and harasses anyone who speaks out about the cult. Following them around, posting false allegations about them online, and generally trying to destroy their lives.

The church gets tax exemption in the USA, which means they pay nothing for their profits. Miscavage's wife has not been seen in public for several years, despite been previously active in the church for years. Miscavage was Tom's best man, at his and Katie Holme's wedding, so he is likely to know about Miscavage's wife. Tom does not see his daughter Siri, because Holmes left scientology, and scientologists are not allowed to have contact family members who have left the cult. I would say there is a much bigger case for him not to appear in films than those stars who have unproven allegations against him. As Scientology's biggest proponent, I think he should have questions to answer about his involvement.

Looking forward to reading your memoirs, hedda!

I've never much liked Tom Cruise as an actor, though I thought he was quite good in Rain Man, and the Scientology stuff puts me off even more.

I think I saw something in a Scientology documentary a while ago saying that Tom Cruise has Scientology members at his beck and call, servants basically.

He was apparently ranting at film crew members a few months back about compliance with Covid rules. Leah Remini is very critical of him.

Leah Remini accuses Tom Cruise of staging a publicity stunt with his leaked COVID-19 rant

EXCLUSIVE: Leah Remini on Tom Cruise’s Covid rant in its Scientology context

"... Tom’s reaction that was released yesterday shows his true personality. He is an abusive person. I witnessed it, I’ve been a recipient of it on a small level, and I’ve been told of similar abuse by his former girlfriend, his employees, and his friends. This is the real Tom. ... Tom does not care of the abuse that employees of the Sea Organization receive, Tom does not care that Shelly Miscavige is being held prisoner by her husband David Miscavige, Tom does not care because Tom subscribes to the abusive culture of Scientology. ..."

EXCLUSIVE: The real Tom Cruise — Leah Remini exposes Scientology’s biggest asset

"... “I think it’s time for people to start waking up to the real facts here. Tom has for years manipulated his image to be the good guy, and although I believe there was a time when Tom was a decent and kindhearted person, he has morphed himself into David Miscavige and is completely dedicated to Scientology’s mission to ‘Clear’ planet Earth — which means making 80 percent of the world’s population into Scientologists,” Leah says.

“Tom has for years used Scientology and its staff to do his dirty work. Tom has used Scientology and its thugs in suits, like Tommy Davis, to break up with his former Scientologist girlfriend. He used Tommy’s ex-wife Jessica to give his girlfriend sex advice on how Tom likes it. Davis has used confidential Scientology counseling confessions to break up two Scientologists so Tom could date one of them, used confidential Scientology counseling sessions to bring a wedge between Tom and his wife Nicole because Nicole didn’t want to do Scientology anymore. And David Miscavige, through Marty Rathbun, got rid of Nicole to get Tom closer to Scientology. Tom has for years used his church to torture his employees by sending them in for interrogations at their expense, causing a woman I know to go bankrupt simply because the hours she worked for Tom made it impossible for her to raise her family. She was interrogated and punished by her church for years, causing her to lose her home. These are some of the things Tom has done that never get talked about, and I think it’s time to change that.” ... "

That last link also refers to false sexual assault allegations possibly being drummed up by Scientology against the film director, Paul Haggis, who left Scientology and spoke out about it.

robbiex wrote:
The man is dangerous and corrupt. His best friend is Daviid Miscavage, Head of the church of scientology. A cult that tears families apart, charges people $100,000s for their courses and books and harasses anyone who speaks out about the cult. Following them around, posting false allegations about them online, and generally trying to destroy their lives.

The church gets tax exemption in the USA, which means they pay nothing for their profits. Miscavage's wife has not been seen in public for several years, despite been previously active in the church for years. Miscavage was Tom's best man, at his and Katie Holme's wedding, so he is likely to know about Miscavage's wife. Tom does not see his daughter Siri, because Holmes left scientology, and scientologists are not allowed to have contact family members who have left the cult. I would say there is a much bigger case for him not to appear in films than those stars who have unproven allegations against him. As Scientology's biggest proponent, I think he should have questions to answer about his involvement.

Katie Holmes was given full custody of Suri, so Tom Cruise's involvement was bound to be minimal.

I Don't like how we judge a good father as one who shares the custody and care of his children.
Maybe the more loving thing to do is step back and not force your child to live two lives in two homes, shunted back and forth, back and forth?

Yeah....but he was terrific in Born on the Fourth July...

robbiex wrote:
The man is dangerous and corrupt. His best friend is Daviid Miscavage, Head of the church of scientology. A cult that tears families apart, charges people $100,000s for their courses and books and harasses anyone who speaks out about the cult. Following them around, posting false allegations about them online, and generally trying to destroy their lives.

The church gets tax exemption in the USA, which means they pay nothing for their profits. Miscavage's wife has not been seen in public for several years, despite been previously active in the church for years. Miscavage was Tom's best man, at his and Katie Holme's wedding, so he is likely to know about Miscavage's wife. Tom does not see his daughter Siri, because Holmes left scientology, and scientologists are not allowed to have contact family members who have left the cult. I would say there is a much bigger case for him not to appear in films than those stars who have unproven allegations against him. As Scientology's biggest proponent, I think he should have questions to answer about his involvement.

My short spell at Scientology was nothing exciting however I had a bloody laugh. Yes I do enjoy Hubbard’s pulp fiction books and short stories.

Best way to shut up a Scientologist is to say “I’m on benefits” they soo leave you alone however Jehovah Witnesses are more deranged.

I despise ALLl religions and cults.

Yes the Scientology thing is a bit scary.

But I think that is also for protection. But then Cruise has those sort of shining eyes of the converted so maybe he's really into it.

Maybe he uses the entire Cult as a personal Bodyguard outfit with 1000s of members to do his bidding.

Which reminds me: I must include a piece about being at a party once given by, I won;t drop names, the fabulous Lady Edith Foxwell, owner of the Embassy Club ( do not worry- I will not repeat what she did with a young black man on my sofa when she stayed for a week in my minuscule flat and ran up an shocking phone bill)

I digress..this was a party at her country house (must have been around 1948 ) a rather run down but lovely place (staff hadn't been paid for months and couldn't afford to not work there) and I spotted a man in "captain's " hat who looked rather familiar. I then realised it was he- L.Ron Hubbard yet I'd just read a newspaper story saying the FBI wanted to interview him.

Apparently his old tub of a yacht was anchored in the Thames as he sailed around the world avoiding the US Inland Revenue.

I wish I'd talked to him..loOked fairly friendly. I think David Miscavige eventually locked him up in a country estate as he gradually took over Scientology.

# Local Scientology offices used to be great for local small newspapers for advertising..they would spend a fortune until it all got too suss.

Honey wrote:
robbiex wrote:
The man is dangerous and corrupt. His best friend is Daviid Miscavage, Head of the church of scientology. A cult that tears families apart, charges people $100,000s for their courses and books and harasses anyone who speaks out about the cult. Following them around, posting false allegations about them online, and generally trying to destroy their lives.

The church gets tax exemption in the USA, which means they pay nothing for their profits. Miscavage's wife has not been seen in public for several years, despite been previously active in the church for years. Miscavage was Tom's best man, at his and Katie Holme's wedding, so he is likely to know about Miscavage's wife. Tom does not see his daughter Siri, because Holmes left scientology, and scientologists are not allowed to have contact family members who have left the cult. I would say there is a much bigger case for him not to appear in films than those stars who have unproven allegations against him. As Scientology's biggest proponent, I think he should have questions to answer about his involvement.

Katie Holmes was given full custody of Suri, so Tom Cruise's involvement was bound to be minimal.

I Don't like how we judge a good father as one who shares the custody and care of his children.
Maybe the more loving thing to do is step back and not force your child to live two lives in two homes, shunted back and forth, back and forth?

Cruise doesn't see Suri at all, or have any contact with her. Scientologists regard those who have left as "Suppressive Persons" and are not allowed contact with them. Scientologists don't have much regard for families. They regard them as children or spouses during one of many millions of life times, so very insignificant. I agree with Cruise during his rant on covid restrictions. Any outbreak on set could result in the project been cancelled and 100s losing their jobs or getting ill. Also I agree with his rant when he was sprayed with a water pistol, this was just an unfunny childish prank. This outburst would be his scientology training taking effect. A technique known as auditing which exposes people to verbal abuse, till they are unaffected by it. In a way Cruise is as much a victim of "brain washing" as anyone else in Scientology.

robbiex wrote:
Honey wrote:
robbiex wrote:
The man is dangerous and corrupt. His best friend is Daviid Miscavage, Head of the church of scientology. A cult that tears families apart, charges people $100,000s for their courses and books and harasses anyone who speaks out about the cult. Following them around, posting false allegations about them online, and generally trying to destroy their lives.

The church gets tax exemption in the USA, which means they pay nothing for their profits. Miscavage's wife has not been seen in public for several years, despite been previously active in the church for years. Miscavage was Tom's best man, at his and Katie Holme's wedding, so he is likely to know about Miscavage's wife. Tom does not see his daughter Siri, because Holmes left scientology, and scientologists are not allowed to have contact family members who have left the cult. I would say there is a much bigger case for him not to appear in films than those stars who have unproven allegations against him. As Scientology's biggest proponent, I think he should have questions to answer about his involvement.

Katie Holmes was given full custody of Suri, so Tom Cruise's involvement was bound to be minimal.

I Don't like how we judge a good father as one who shares the custody and care of his children.
Maybe the more loving thing to do is step back and not force your child to live two lives in two homes, shunted back and forth, back and forth?

Cruise doesn't see Suri at all, or have any contact with her. Scientologists regard those who have left as "Suppressive Persons" and are not allowed contact with them. Scientologists don't have much regard for families. They regard them as children or spouses during one of many millions of life times, so very insignificant. I agree with Cruise during his rant on covid restrictions. Any outbreak on set could result in the project been cancelled and 100s losing their jobs or getting ill. Also I agree with his rant when he was sprayed with a water pistol, this was just an unfunny childish prank. This outburst would be his scientology training taking effect. A technique known as auditing which exposes people to verbal abuse, till they are unaffected by it. In a way Cruise is as much a victim of "brain washing" as anyone else in Scientology.

I agree with what he was saying too, but he could have been a bit gentler.
My point about Suri is that if he has lost custody he doesn't have any choice, regardless of religion.

Scientology trains you to shriek at people? Surely not?

Honey wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Honey wrote:
robbiex wrote:
The man is dangerous and corrupt. His best friend is Daviid Miscavage, Head of the church of scientology. A cult that tears families apart, charges people $100,000s for their courses and books and harasses anyone who speaks out about the cult. Following them around, posting false allegations about them online, and generally trying to destroy their lives.

The church gets tax exemption in the USA, which means they pay nothing for their profits. Miscavage's wife has not been seen in public for several years, despite been previously active in the church for years. Miscavage was Tom's best man, at his and Katie Holme's wedding, so he is likely to know about Miscavage's wife. Tom does not see his daughter Siri, because Holmes left scientology, and scientologists are not allowed to have contact family members who have left the cult. I would say there is a much bigger case for him not to appear in films than those stars who have unproven allegations against him. As Scientology's biggest proponent, I think he should have questions to answer about his involvement.

Katie Holmes was given full custody of Suri, so Tom Cruise's involvement was bound to be minimal.

I Don't like how we judge a good father as one who shares the custody and care of his children.
Maybe the more loving thing to do is step back and not force your child to live two lives in two homes, shunted back and forth, back and forth?

Cruise doesn't see Suri at all, or have any contact with her. Scientologists regard those who have left as "Suppressive Persons" and are not allowed contact with them. Scientologists don't have much regard for families. They regard them as children or spouses during one of many millions of life times, so very insignificant. I agree with Cruise during his rant on covid restrictions. Any outbreak on set could result in the project been cancelled and 100s losing their jobs or getting ill. Also I agree with his rant when he was sprayed with a water pistol, this was just an unfunny childish prank. This outburst would be his scientology training taking effect. A technique known as auditing which exposes people to verbal abuse, till they are unaffected by it. In a way Cruise is as much a victim of "brain washing" as anyone else in Scientology.

I agree with what he was saying too, but he could have been a bit gentler.
My point about Suri is that if he has lost custody he doesn't have any choice, regardless of religion.

Scientology trains you to shriek at people? Surely not?

I agree he could have been gentler, but most people would have just avoided the confrontation. Scientology teaches people to be unafraid of confrontation via its auditing techniques and to become immune to personal abuse.

hedda wrote:
Yes the Scientology thing is a bit scary.

But I think that is also for protection. But then Cruise has those sort of shining eyes of the converted so maybe he's really into it.

Maybe he uses the entire Cult as a personal Bodyguard outfit with 1000s of members to do his bidding.

Which reminds me: I must include a piece about being at a party once given by, I won;t drop names, the fabulous Lady Edith Foxwell, owner of the Embassy Club ( do not worry- I will not repeat what she did with a young black man on my sofa when she stayed for a week in my minuscule flat and ran up an shocking phone bill)

I digress..this was a party at her country house (must have been around 1948 ) a rather run down but lovely place (staff hadn't been paid for months and couldn't afford to not work there) and I spotted a man in "captain's " hat who looked rather familiar. I then realised it was he- L.Ron Hubbard yet I'd just read a newspaper story saying the FBI wanted to interview him.

Apparently his old tub of a yacht was anchored in the Thames as he sailed around the world avoiding the US Inland Revenue.

I wish I'd talked to him..loOked fairly friendly. I think David Miscavige eventually locked him up in a country estate as he gradually took over Scientology.

# Local Scientology offices used to be great for local small newspapers for advertising..they would spend a fortune until it all got too suss.

It was rumoured that Miscavige killed Hubbard in the ranch where he spent his final years there in ill health. David used to call staff all the time when he wasn’t there. Miscavige followed Hubbard was very where even held the ashtrays for him, he like a slave but was promised him Scientology will be his.

I don’t get why people never mention Hubbard’s fiction work or read The Fear. Great stuff.

Hubbard didn’t even believe the Scientology stuff but it made him money, he admitted he was mostly joking.

hedda wrote:
Yes the Scientology thing is a bit scary.

But I think that is also for protection. But then Cruise has those sort of shining eyes of the converted so maybe he's really into it.

Maybe he uses the entire Cult as a personal Bodyguard outfit with 1000s of members to do his bidding.

Which reminds me: I must include a piece about being at a party once given by, I won;t drop names, the fabulous Lady Edith Foxwell, owner of the Embassy Club ( do not worry- I will not repeat what she did with a young black man on my sofa when she stayed for a week in my minuscule flat and ran up an shocking phone bill)

I digress..this was a party at her country house (must have been around 1948 ) a rather run down but lovely place (staff hadn't been paid for months and couldn't afford to not work there) and I spotted a man in "captain's " hat who looked rather familiar. I then realised it was he- L.Ron Hubbard yet I'd just read a newspaper story saying the FBI wanted to interview him.

Apparently his old tub of a yacht was anchored in the Thames as he sailed around the world avoiding the US Inland Revenue.

I wish I'd talked to him..loOked fairly friendly. I think David Miscavige eventually locked him up in a country estate as he gradually took over Scientology.

# Local Scientology offices used to be great for local small newspapers for advertising..they would spend a fortune until it all got too suss.

Its like saying Nazism was good because it have great libraries. Cruise is on with Graham Nortan tonight. Will he ask him about brain washing cult scientology. Will he bollox, he will be appearing under strict instructions not to mention it, and just talk about his latest brain dead mission impossible or mission instantly forgettable film.

robbiex wrote:
hedda wrote:
Yes the Scientology thing is a bit scary.

But I think that is also for protection. But then Cruise has those sort of shining eyes of the converted so maybe he's really into it.

Maybe he uses the entire Cult as a personal Bodyguard outfit with 1000s of members to do his bidding.

Which reminds me: I must include a piece about being at a party once given by, I won;t drop names, the fabulous Lady Edith Foxwell, owner of the Embassy Club ( do not worry- I will not repeat what she did with a young black man on my sofa when she stayed for a week in my minuscule flat and ran up an shocking phone bill)

I digress..this was a party at her country house (must have been around 1948 ) a rather run down but lovely place (staff hadn't been paid for months and couldn't afford to not work there) and I spotted a man in "captain's " hat who looked rather familiar. I then realised it was he- L.Ron Hubbard yet I'd just read a newspaper story saying the FBI wanted to interview him.

Apparently his old tub of a yacht was anchored in the Thames as he sailed around the world avoiding the US Inland Revenue.

I wish I'd talked to him..loOked fairly friendly. I think David Miscavige eventually locked him up in a country estate as he gradually took over Scientology.

# Local Scientology offices used to be great for local small newspapers for advertising..they would spend a fortune until it all got too suss.

Its like saying Nazism was good because it have great libraries. Cruise is on with Graham Nortan tonight. Will he ask him about brain washing cult scientology. Will he bollox, he will be appearing under strict instructions not to mention it, and just talk about his latest brain dead mission impossible or mission instantly forgettable film.

Do you have the feelings towards Scientology to those who kill for their Gods or Prophets ?