Over the course of an acting career spanning more than 35 years, Tom Cruise has evolved from a floppy haired heartthrob into one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in Hollywood. He flew straight into the hearts of female viewers the world over as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in aerial romance Top Gun (1986), and he won the male vote as Ethan Hunt in the stunt-laden Mission: Impossible franchise (1996-), gradually building a reputation as one of the film industry's genuine megastars. But somewhere along the way, the love Cruise had grown accustomed to began to fade, and the public's perception of him changed drastically. Once the man that every guy wanted to be and every girl wanted to be with, the name Tom Cruise has since come to mean something completely different on both sides of the gender divide, but why? This is how Cruise became so hated in Hollywood.
People grew skeptical of his beliefs
Acting aside, Cruise is best known for his passionate advocacy of the Church of Scientology. He credits the faith with helping him overcome his crippling dyslexia and plays an active part in the controversial church's many social programs. Cruise was introduced to Scientology by his first wife, actress Mimi Rogers, whose father, Phil Spickler, was a prominent member of the movement when its founder, sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard, was at the helm.
He was targeted by the church
According to a Radar Online interview with ex-member Nancy Many, Cruise was targeted by the church without the actor realizing it. "I knew some of the people who kid-gloved him into becoming a member," she said. "[Cruise] was matched with a wonderful, wonderful man who was a hero in Vietnam and was part of a group in the Tet Offensive held down by the Viet Cong. It was done on purpose, the manipulation is often unseen or unnoticed by the person being manipulated." Cruise was filming Vietnam war epic Born on the Fourth of July (1989) at the time, and having a genuine vet to walk him through the induction process likely helped hook the actor.
He's a hypocrite
While no sane person will hate someone based solely on their faith, Cruise's perceived hypocrisy when it comes to Scientology often grinds people's gears. The A-lister made headlines when he tried to have an official video of him ranting about the privilege he felt as a Scientologist removed from YouTube.
He started getting involved in politics
Despite Rogers and Cruise separating in 1990 after three years of marriage, his dedication to Scientology continued to intensify. Cruise's fervent belief in Hubbard's doctrine transformed the actor into an international lobbyist, spearheading the church's drive to become a recognized religion in Europe (an increasingly important market for Hollywood) with little success. According to the Irish Examiner, leaders at Paris city hall came to an agreement in 2005 "never to welcome the actor Tom Cruise, spokesman for Scientology and self-declared militant for this organization," with authorities in the French capital later putting the church on trial for "organized fraud" after two members complained that they had been ripped off tens of thousands of dollars.
His propaganda mission failed
Cruise's mission didn't fare much better in Germany. The BBC reported in 2007 that the country was refusing to allow World War II thriller Valkyrie (2008) to be shot on its military sites because of the Hollywood star's affiliation with Scientology. A statement from the German defense ministry said the actor had "publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult" and questioned the church's motives. While the government did finally soften its stance and allow the production access, German religious leaders were not so welcoming, with a chief spokesman from the Protestant Church comparing Cruise with Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. Spokesman Thomas Gandow claimed Valkyrie would "have the same propaganda advantages for Scientology as the 1936 Olympics had for the Nazis."
He's been divorced three times
While film fans love a bit of relationship drama, movie studios don't always feel the same way. Cruise seemingly got his kicks dating older women when he burst onto the scene in the early '80s, getting involved with singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa, who was nine years his senior, and then actress and singer Cher, who was a whopping 16 years older. He finally settled for a woman just four years his elder when he married Rogers in 1987. His divorce from Rogers was soon forgotten when he tied the knot with Days of Thunder (1990) co-star Nicole Kidman. That duo became the Hollywood power couple of the '90s, but when their union ended after 11 years, it arguably marked the beginning of the end for Cruise's untarnished public image.
Again Scientology was involved
After his brief relationship with Vanilla Sky (2001) co-star Penélope Cruz, the Church of Scientology allegedly launched a secret auditioning process to find Cruise a new wife. According to Vanity Fair, English-Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi was selected as a suitable match, but then reportedly booted months later in favor of actress Katie Holmes. The Dawson's Creek (1998-03)star became Cruise's third wife, marrying him in a fairy-tale ceremony in a 15th Century Italian castle, and thus, TomKat was born. Less than six years later, Holmes filed for divorce, with the Daily Mail reporting she feared their daughter, Suri, would be brainwashed by Scientologists if she didn't end her marriage and get her kid out while she still could.
He developed a reputation as a control freak
Persistent rumors that Cruise is controlling behind closed doors have followed the actor around since his second divorce, denting his reputation among fans and studio execs alike. Us Weekly reported that Kidman often lived in the shadow of Cruise (though if that really were the case, some serious crouching would be in order) and at times felt as though she was nothing but a trophy wife. "We would go to the Oscars and I would think, I'm here to support him," the Australian stunner said. "I felt it was my job to put on a beautiful dress and to be seen and not heard."
He spied on his wife
In an interview with David Letterman conducted not long after her impending divorce from Cruise, Kidman joked that she was now able to wear high heels again (Kidman is several inches taller than Cruise), though her ex's behavior at the end of their marriage was seemingly no laughing matter. Alex Gibney's documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015) alleges Cruise had members of the church wiretap Kidman's phone so they could keep tabs on her and manipulate divorce proceedings.
He got even more controlling
According to the Daily Mail, Cruise became even more controlling in his next marriage, reportedly telling Holmes exactly what she could wear and which friends she could see. As if to show solidarity with Kidman, one of Holmes' first public appearances after her separation from Cruise was in a pair of 4-inch heels.
He's lost the female fan base
Telling women what they can and can't wear is one way to make yourself extremely unpopular among the female demographic, but telling ladies not to scream during childbirth is a different kind of insult entirely. When Holmes was pregnant, Cruise was forced to address rumors that he was demanding his wife give birth in complete silence, a practice Scientologists believe prevents permanent psychic scars caused by a negative vibe at birth. According to ABC News, Cruise was even rumored to have had a special pacifier made to keep Holmes quiet during delivery, though the A-lister insisted the church's "silent birth" method isn't as strict as many believe it to be.
He's outspoken about childbirth
It wasn't the first time Cruise stuck his nose into the childbirth debate. He made headlines in 2005 when he openly criticized Endless Love (1981) co-star Brooke Shields for taking medicine to help her cope with postpartum depression, bashing the actress for turning to prescription drugs as opposed to relying on vitamins and good old fashioned exercise. Shields responded by telling Cruise that he "should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them."
His infidelity was exposed
If strike one was exerting control over fashion choices and strike two was meddling in childbirth plans, Cruise's third and final strike came when his alleged on-set infidelity was exposed. Rumors that Scientology big wigs encouraged Cruise to cheat on first wife Rogers with second wife Kidman on the set of Days of Thunder were reportedly confirmed by former senior church executive Marty Rathbun.
Studios got sick of him, too
Cruise's behavior off the big screen eventually began to affect his career on it. In 2006, Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year working relationship with the actor and his production company, fearing his erratic actions were going to negatively impact receipts for the upcoming Mission: Impossible III. The Hollywood Gossip reported it was the wife of Sumner Redstone (CEO of Paramount owner Viacom) who instigated giving Cruise the ax after she took offense to the actor shaming Shields. Apparently, It wasn't just the actor's affiliation with Scientology that had the studio sweating. Cruise's bizarre appearance on Oprah led many to question his sanity, with viewers watching in disbelief as he jumped up and down on his chair maniacally while declaring his undying love for Holmes.
His behavior became too bizarre
Redstone was quoted by CNN saying that although "we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal. His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount." A spokesman for the dumped Cruise/Wagner Production Company tried to paint a picture of mutual consent, releasing a statement saying, "Agents for Cruise/Wagner Production Company ceased negotiations with Paramount over a week ago and have since secured independent financing." A deal to take over floundering MGM branch United Artists was struck in 2006, but Cruise gave long time partner Paula Wagner the boot two years later, relieving her of her duties as CEO after a disastrous stint, according to Deadline.
He became one of Hollywood's most overpaid actors
The gender pay gap has been an issue in Hollywood for a long time. According to Tinseltown stalwart Alec Baldwin, the problem is not sexism, but a select few A-listers who demand ridiculous pay packets in exchange for their services. While hosting Elle magazine's annual Women in Hollywood dinner and awards show, Baldwin reportedly singled out Cruise. According to E! Online, Baldwin said, "I believe we can balance the scales if Tom Cruise would lower his quote by a mere $29 million. I realize this may be a bit unfair since he's not here to defend himself and I really don't want to put this all on one man, but if I had to, that man would be Tom CruiseI assure you my salary would not make a difference. My annual salary is the budget for Altoids on one of Tom's movies."
His demands hold up production
Cruise didn't seem to take notice. The Hollywood Reporter revealed in 2016 that Mission: Impossible 6 hit a roadblock in the form of Cruise's hefty wage demands, with disagreements over back-end profit pushing the production (which was originally scheduled to begin shooting in January 2017) back indefinitely. Hard ball has worked for him in the past, but Cruise needs to be careful he isn't asking too much. In fact, Forbes named him one of the most overpaid actors of 2015, returning just $13.60 for every dollar he was paid that year.
He's become too powerful for his own good
Despite questioning the diminutive star's profitability, Forbes is well aware of the influence Cruise holds, naming him the most powerful actor in Tinseltown on a number of occasions. He topped the list in 2006 after his War of the Worlds (2005) remake cleaned up at the box office. The accolade was also bestowed upon him in 2012 after Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (2011) brought the franchise back from the brink. While most studios strive to get the big names on board, when those egos get too inflated and start calling the shots themselves, it can become a problem.
He basically rules Asia
Cruise's reputation now precedes him, and his influence has spread across the globe. While he was left with egg on his face after a less than friendly reception in Europe, Cruise has had better luck cracking the increasingly lucrative Asian market, making particular inroads in the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan's crush on Cruise exploded into a full on affair after the release of 2003's The Last Samurai, with the country declaring a national holiday in his honor. October 10 was named Tom Cruise Day, a celebration that apparently involves some pretty bizarre Cruise cosplay.
He's almost God-like in the church of Scientology
Of course, another arena in which Cruise's influence seems to be spreading like wildfire is within the Church of Scientology. In 2015, former member and actress Leah Remini told ABC News that Cruise has become so powerful within Scientology's upper echelons that criticizing him is now considered "evil" and a slight on the church itself.
He's tried to convert other celebs
Devoting one's life to a faith created by a science fiction writer is all well and good, but trying to coerce other A-list celebs into doing the same in an effort to widen that organization's global appeal sounds, to many, like propaganda. Former high-ranking Scientologist Gary Morehead told the Daily Mail that Cruise had an unhealthy obsession with David Beckham and viewed the British soccer star as the ideal convert. The Beckham brand is one recognized all over the world, so attracting the athlete to the church would make for tremendous publicity. That conversation never came to pass, but it allegedly wasn't for a lack of trying on Cruise's part.
The Beckham's turned him down
According to the 2015 report, in an attempt to lure Beckham to Scientology headquarters, Cruise ordered Sea Org members to create a full-size soccer field, complete with the intricate criss-cross patterns that take groundskeepers years to perfect. It was all for nothing in the end, as Beckham and wife Victoria reportedly pulled a no-show, doing their budding pop star son Cruz Beckham a huge favor in the process"If Everyday Was Auditor's Day" doesn't quite have the same ring to it as the original.
Did he abandon his daughter?
Cruise has three children: Isabella and Connor were adopted with Kidman during their marriage, and Suri was fathered with Holmes before they split. Eyebrows were raised when Cruise missed his eldest daughter's Scientologist wedding in 2015, though Bella (who now has a child of her own) claims she does keep in contact with her dad. The same cannot be said for Cruise's youngest, however.
Cruise hasn't seen Suri in at least 3 years
According to a June 2016 report from In Touch, Cruise has not had contact of any kind with Suri in years. Cruise has allegedly blamed his absence on a busy work schedule, though the excuses have been supposedly wearing thin with both Holmes and Suri, according to an insider. "Tom eats, breathes and sleeps Scientology," the source told In Touch. "He's disconnected from Katie, and then de facto from Suri, because of her connection to Katie. He hasn't seen her since she was 7." Suri turned 10 in 2016.
It became popular to hate him
Does Cruise really deserve to be hated in Hollywood and beyond? Some say all this negativity boils down to a simple case of jumping on the bandwagon. For every film fan that harbors a genuine hate for the man, there's another who will avoid his movies based solely on the sway of public opinion. Still, the old adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity" seems to ring true in this case. Gossip has followed Cruise his entire life, from questions over his sexuality to questions about his sanity.
His star power seems limitless
Still, the old adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity" seems to ring true in this case. Gossip has followed Cruise his entire life, yet his star power has continued to prevail. Despite his questionable beliefs and erratic outbursts, Cruise remains in high demand, reaffirming his position as one of the industry's top leading men. He continues to regularly release blockbusters, and while some have failed to recoup their huge outlays domestically, all have pulled in profits from the worldwide market.
What's next for Cruise?
Up next for Cruise is The Mummy (2017), the first film in Universal's planned reboot of its classic monster properties. It was while filming in London that Cruise began what sources have described as his first serious relationship since Holmes, though at the time of this writing, his new British squeeze has not been identified. It remains to be seen if this budding romance will help or hurt his troubled public image.