Does Tom Cruise deserve being compared to Mel Gibson?

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So it’s no secret that Knight & Day did not do as well as anyone hoped. Xenu did not approve. So Cameron and Tom are stuck doing promotion internationally, although to be fair to Tom, I think he enjoys promoting his films overseas. He’s always done it, and he still has a lot of goodwill left overseas, so more power to him. He and Cameron were in Brazil for a few days this week, and the weirdest thing happened – Tom didn’t do any interviews. At least none I can find. It’s almost like he’s trying to pull a Garbo and be mysterious. Mission accomplished, Xenu. Tom will forever be shrouded in mystery (for me at least) because he truly is a weird man.

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Anyway, I just wanted to show the photos of the premiere in Rio de Janeiro. Cameron looked okay in a wrap dress, while Tom busted out his best high heels. Poor Tom. If he knew he was going to have to wear his lifts the whole promo tour, I’m sure he would have gotten a shorter leading lady. Here’s a closeup of his lovely heels:

highheels

Work it, bitch.

By the way, I put this in the links the other day, but it’s worth repeating. Tom isn’t the only aging action star on the ropes, and some critics are offering comparisons between Tom and… wait for it… Mel Gibson. Now, I think Tom is crazy, sure. But as far as we know, he’s never hit anyone, he’s never verbally abused anyone, and he’s never threatened rape, arson or general violence on anyone. I don’t believe Tom is that guy, I really don’t. Tom does not deserve these comparisons to Mel Gibson, so just stop it, okay film critics?

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Tom and Cameron in Brazil on July 7, 2010. Credit: Fame.

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59 Responses to “Does Tom Cruise deserve being compared to Mel Gibson?”

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  1. ligeia says:

    tom is a crazy, but so far he appears to be a harmless one. mel gibson on the other hand needs to be locked up with the key thrown away for good.

  2. benny says:

    Yeah, he’s crazy (or brainwashed, or something), but he hasn’t done anything violent, racist, or illegal that we know of. I think people are just growing tired of the Tom Cruise persona, which he plays in 90% of his movies. I don’t think it’s similar to Mel Gibson’s problems.

  3. bizzy says:

    i dunno. i mean, not to minimize mel’s sheer awfulness (he reminds me vividly of my own dear misogynistic, racist, abusive father so don’t try to tell me i don’t know what’s what), but tom strikes me as someone who likes to get his own way with plenty of grease and a shiny crowbar, but who does insist on getting his own way.

    did that make *any* sense to anyone except me?

  4. Whatever says:

    I’ve never heard of anything, but I wouldn’t be surprised. The stories about the upper levels of scientology are scary with beatings and other sick crap. Remember that he is friends with those guys. So, even if he isn’t participating, he’s looking the other way involving real, long term abuse and intimidation. I can see the parallel.

  5. Crash2GO2 says:

    I’m with whatever. Tom’s evil nastiness is just better concealed because he’s not a sloppy drunk like Mel.

  6. jeane says:

    Both actors are so overexposed and got so much (negative) press, that it is now impossible for the public to see them seperate from their crazy reputations. I cannot watch a movie with either of them in it without thinking about how completely batshit crazy these people are. So I stopped watching their movies. Lots of people did. I doon’t think either of them can recover their careers at this point.

  7. Patricia says:

    They both have psychiatric diagnoses. Mel is Manic Depressive and Tom is ADHD. Don’t know if Mel is taking his meds but Tom won’t.

  8. bizzy says:

    @whatever: good point. i think tom’s using the crazy church of scientology to beat his women down, whereas mel does the work himself.

  9. andrea says:

    well, tom himself is no mel. nuts, yes, but not evil. tom’s craziness seems to stem from insecurities and weird beliefs rather than hatefulness like mel’s. that said, tom may be sort of criminally negligent in allowing himself to be blind to the evil stuff scientology apparently does.

  10. Wilz says:

    You’re comparing weird apples to batshit insane oranges. Tom Cruise is nowhere near the level of Mel Gibson crazy!

  11. Nanea says:

    While Tom personally doesn’t seem to be violent, the crazy cult he’s a member of makes death threats against people who want to quit. $cientology is known for mental abuse, and their “purification” rituals are dangerous for people’s physical wellbeing.

    High doses of artificial vitamins and other dietary supplements are bad for people’s health too.

    Anyone remember how bad Katie used to look at times?

    So yeah, by remaining in that cult, and being one of their highest representatives, he deserves everything he gets labelled and then some.

  12. TQB says:

    As has been discussed at length on this site, it’s time we start holding abusers – ALL abusers, regardless of skin tone – accountable, and part of that is not lumping them in with people who aren’t abusers but are otherwise perceived as crazy or scorn-worthy.

  13. tiki says:

    cruise needs to move beyond action-hero movies and into character acting. his star will probably rise again if he makes the switch.

  14. Lucinda says:

    I don’t know… I can totally see Tom as a hard core mental and emotional abuser. Not physical. But definitely the other stuff. It just hasn’t come out yet. He’s also more refined than Mel, plays it smarter. Give it time.

  15. Persistent Cat says:

    There’s proof that Mel is 100% horrible. A lot of the Tom stuff is speculation.

    I somewhat agree with Jeane’s comments. I won’t watch a movie with either because I can’t get past Tom’s crazy and I can’t stomach Mel. The onDemand channel keeps playing the trailer for Mel’s latest movie and it just sickens me. I was disgusted by it before but now, with all the stuff coming out about him beating Oksana and the stuff he said, puke. He just sickens me.

  16. original kate says:

    mel gibson is totally hate-filled, spewing his racist and anti-semitic rants. tiny tom, to my knowledge, is just a scientologist…weird but harmless.

  17. ctkat says:

    Tom is a crazy cult member, but he’s a good person- he treats others well, he works hard, he’s a good father, etc.

    Mel is a nasty piece of work- abusive, alcoholic, racist, and misogynistic.

    There’s no comparison.

  18. Cheyenne says:

    Good lord, no. Tom may be a nutcase but he’s not a violent, racist POS, as far as anyone knows.

    @Patricia: Who made those diagnoses? You?

  19. Bill Hicks is God says:

    Who knows what Tom Cruise’s private views are. Gibson’s drinking just makes us all very much aware of his.

  20. Harper says:

    Eh…Tom doesn’t deserve to be compared with Mel. Mel and Hitler? Sure. Mel and Tom? Non.

  21. DrM says:

    Tom Cruise = Mel Gibson? Ahhhhhhhhhh…no. I actually think that comparison borders on slander and defamation and if I was Mr Cruise I’d be plenty PO’d. Religious views aside from a lot of accounts he’s a really good guy to work with and genuinely treats people really well. I’m not a huge fan of his but I do think he gets far too much stick.

  22. Shi-gatsu says:

    I said this once before

    I don’t go by hearsay or tabloids – I go from my own experiences and actual proof.

    I’ve met Tom Cruise. He is one of the most humble people- especially for a celebrity. There were no cameras around. He was very gracious and kind. Has he got flaws? Absolutely – but has there been any PROOF of him being even a smidge of what Mel Gibson is? Nope.

    Mel Gibson has PROVEN time and time again he is a racist, misogynist, bigot.

    There is no comparison.

  23. Jeri says:

    As respects their fame & believing their own hype I think they are comparable. Obviously Tom is not violent (that we know of) but he is a control freak and def CRAZY and scientology with it’s strange beliefs just adds to his weirdo cred. Mel is CRAZY too but also violent & mean.

  24. lucy2 says:

    I think Tom has issues and he’s not someone I’d like to have to be around on a regular basis, but the comparison to Mel is off balance. Mel seems to be hateful, angry, bigoted, and apparently abusive.

  25. Ron says:

    Years ago when I was working in BH, I waited on Tom and Nicole. And they both were completely charming and very very nice. I agree that he is odd but I really don’t think he’s nasty in any way. Nicole was shy, but Tom was very friendly and even signed autographs for a few people while I was waiting on him and took the interruptions with no issue.

  26. Obvious says:

    If I were Tom I’d sue those critics for defamation.

    That being said the boy it batsh*t crazy-but it’s humorous at times. I think he’s been brainwashed and has ben emotionally and mentally abused by his church.

    Mel is just a hate filled misogynist bastard. Even Chris Brown isn’t no this level-he didn’t say he hoped Rhianna got raped by a pack of anything-he just beat her senseless-not that i am in anyway condoning what he did.

  27. trollydolly says:

    @ Bizzy, (No 3 comment)
    Are we, perchance, sisters? Seems we had the same dad!

  28. bizzy says:

    @trollydolly: if you are my sister, god, are you finally admitting something was fundamentally, horribly wrong with our family?

    oh, wait, no, just sisters in spirit i guess. 🙂

  29. moo says:

    there are different degrees of craziness…

  30. girl says:

    I guess if one believes all the abuse accusations made against Scientology, I could kind of see it. Sort of.

    But even that is a stretch. I don’t recall TC ever being accused of commiting these abuses himself (I could be wrong). Just being part of the church.

  31. Eileen Yover says:

    LOL Wiltz! I would say its more like crazy, vitamin chugging, couch jumping apples to abusive, racist, drunk ass oranges.

    No but really I agree with whoever said TC has the church break his bitches down, Mel doesn’t it the Ike Turner way.

  32. Zoe says:

    I won’t compare beyond the fact that they are both crazy and have lost their careers do to their irrational life choices, but I will say that Tom Cruise is not harmless. What he supports and is actively promoting is harming people and he’s part of perpetuating that.

  33. constance says:

    Tommii might not have been caught doing anything of the Mel Gibson nature. But his sacred organization and besties (I’m looking at you Dave Cabbagehead) are frankly evil. DMC has been known to do a whole lot of Mel Gibson shit, along with the stories of covering up murders…

    So while Tommy might not get his hands and mouth dirty (in that nature) he’s helping other wicked people do those exact things.

  34. Kate says:

    While we don’t know Tom’s views on anything except scientology and anti-depressants, a lot of evidence would lead to the conclusion that Tom is NOT a racist. His son is of mixed race. The discussion on the topic should probably end there. But he also hangs with, among others, Will Smith and J. Lo. It seems like Mel hates anyone who isn’t white, anglo-saxon protestant.

  35. Cruisin Through says:

    Not a big Cruise fan, but comparing him to Mel is unfair. He has his own issues, but none of which seem comparable to Mel who really has no regard for women.

  36. Maritza says:

    There is definitely no comparison between Tom and Mel, Mel is an alcoholic, a racist and plain crazy. Tom is a nice guy maybe just a little bit to intense but that’s his personality. I find him so handsome! Now Cameron I think the older she gets the more she looks like Dyan Cannon.

  37. Lanette says:

    I adore Tom.

  38. Lem says:

    i’m thinking the critics are comparing actor to actor. movie to movie. box office to box office

    As today is Kevin Bacon’s Birthday I say

    fanatical religious beliefs? check
    napoleon complex? check
    marriages not based on merit? check
    domineering, controlling or otherwise abusive behavior towards others? check
    suspended reality? check
    Gibson played Maverick in Maverick- Cruise played Maverick in Top Gun.
    Luckily no separation at all and Kevin Bacon didn’t need to be involved!

  39. Music says:

    Tom is no way comparable to Mel Gibson. Tom has always shown to be completley humble and has more respect in HW and in the world then Mel. Nobody can take one flop and compare it to Gibson career.

    Every star career has seen bad times, while I think Tom has a lot more range then he is given credit for, and I believe his turn in comedy will give his career a second wind, he seems to just have bad views on the cult and possible anti depressants. Thats all.
    He also has a adopted black son. Best friends with Will Smith, and has NEVER treated fans or others with disrespect. There is no way in his meltdown mode in 05, that if he was like Gibson we wouldn’t know it by now. Especially physically/emotional abusive and a racist.

    Gibson literally is a piece of Shh and disgusting on all levels, he can’t open a film and won’t be starring in any that he hasnt already made, after his latest rant. Mel looks like someone grandpa that has finally let out his racist views, he hid from all of us for years. I would pay 12 dollars to see Tom in a movie, rather then Gibson any day of the week. I’m sure Tom has secrets but what celebrity dosent?

    Ben Affleck has had more BOMBS at the box office then Cruise has. Yet people arent comparing him to Mel? Tom marriage to Katie was the BIGGEST mistake of his career while Affleck relationship with JLO was his worst mistake that he can’t get away from. They should do a comparision on these two.

  40. guesty says:

    not exactly a fair comparison. even tho he brings his own kind of crazy.

  41. Aussie Mama says:

    How quickly people forget!
    Not too long ago tom was accused by Scientology defecters of torture, bullying, and physical abuse.
    Yes he is like Mel! He was accused of something that most likely did not happen.
    Like Mel he is picked on, vilified for stating his opinion etc.
    But also, like Mel he is loved by anyone that crosses paths with him.
    On another note, just saw the preview to his new movie, with Cameron, looks absolutely fantastic, real funny, awesome original stunts and man o man, that guy is getting better with age. He looks great. May I say, Toms’ Back Baby!

  42. Vibius says:

    I honestly dont know. If half the stories told by the survivors of Scientology are to be believed, it can be a violent organization at the top. Depends on how much of that Tom has seen or been a part of. He has NEVER been accused of being part of any employee abuse, but if he has seen it then he shares responsibility.

  43. Sincerity says:

    I’ve never understood the comparison, myself. The only thing they have in common is that they are successful actors who have had no problem voicing their opinions regarding their religious beliefs. At this point, Mel Gibson’s personal battles may very well force him into retirement; however, unless someone releases some very incriminating recorded conversations involving Tom Cruise, his career is not in jeopardy.

  44. ghostbuster says:

    WOW! cd really has had some surgery! well, at least she looks very plastic in those pictures. also, tc hasnt really aged, so im guessing plastic surgery. how come in scientology you cannot take any meds that could save your life (jet travolta) but you can under go surgery to alter your looks? it seems a little weird to me and if anyone has an answer id be very interested in it.

  45. Tazina says:

    Tom is a bit whacky. He laughs way too much during interviews to the point where it’s annoying. Every question and he laughs. But even with his strange religion, he is nothing like Mel Gibson and should not have been compared to him in the first place.

  46. DiMi says:

    Tom is also not a racist and misogynist. He is strange, but he’s not as bad as Mel.

  47. “Work it, bitch.”

    Ha!

  48. mln says:

    Tom isn’t going anywhere, he is a ham and will do anything to remain famous despite his crazy as Lainey would say Gay-Midget-Dwarf-self.
    Mel on the other hand has exposed something that has tainted all of his performances and is an exposure akin to OJ. I personally won’t be able to watch any of his movies.
    Is it possible that Tom has some terrible secret and has done something unforgivable? Sure but personally I doubt it.

  49. Dizzybenny says:

    When Mel Gibson makes Tom Cruise look normal you got yourself a problem.:)

  50. Jennifer says:

    My husband has workede for Tom and it is true that he is genuinely a good man. He’s extremely nice, apologizes if he inconveniences anyone with his schedule and even picks Katie up from the airport late at night. Suri is a very sweet little girl. I absolutely love Tom more because of what I KNOW to be true. My husband deals with a lot of celebs and he says BY FAR Tom is the nicest, most gracious one out there.

  51. Fae says:

    Something about Tom suggests to me that he’s far too ‘about’ control to ever lose it.

  52. Whatever says:

    I honestly dont know. If half the stories told by the survivors of Scientology are to be believed, it can be a violent organization at the top. Depends on how much of that Tom has seen or been a part of. He has NEVER been accused of being part of any employee abuse, but if he has seen it then he shares responsibility.

    **************************************

    This is what I think too. He may not be abusing people physically and psychologically himself, but he is best friends with David Miscavage and I’m sure he knows what is going on. I do believe the hundreds of ex members, some 30+ years in the religion, and their tales of abuse. Even if he is not involved, he is culpable for continuing to support, promote and perpetuate the sick abuse that happens in that organization. I can’t give him a pass, just because he is famous and people say he is nice. You can find TONS of quotes where HW people said Mel was the greatest guy.

  53. Rosanna says:

    the difference, as I see it, is:
    1) Tom is smarter because he actually hooks up with people who won’t leak anything to the press
    2) Tom has issues, Mel is a rotten person with an illness (even if he had bipolar that wouldn’t explain racist outburst or abusive behavior)
    3) Tom – scientology aside – is a sweet person, Mel never gushed over his kids or his lovers

  54. Canucklehead says:

    I don’t think this is a fair comparison at all. I don’t remember hearing about him beating Katie Holmes or ranting against a certain race/creed/whatever.

    As crazy as Tom seems to be (and as weird as I personally feel Scientology is) at least he does his job well. Tom always entertains and I think if he could ever tone down his weirdness and focus on his craft and family he could become iconic.

    BTW, I’m not gay for Tom

    Gerard Butler maybe, but not Tom

    and maybe Chris Pine

    …man crushes are hard to deal with

  55. Whatever says:

    I think the comparison is really “Is crazy killing their careers” not abuse specifically. Both men used to be money in the bank at the box office. Now, both have released movies that have not done well. Is it because in both cases the star is negatively affecting the film in the minds of the audience. Some people are turned off and avoid a movie if Mel is in it and the same can be said for Tom. Some people can’t see past the crazy to the character being portrayed. Makes sense.

  56. Westcoaster says:

    Considering how the media likes to dig up dirt on celebrities if Tom was anything like Mel Gibson it would have come out by now. Even the CoS is no match against the National Enquirer!

  57. Whilst Tom may be upfront about his views on certain things (which may not be PC), there is nothing about him that is hateful. Different, kooky, a bit odd as his religious views are not considered the norm but not hateful.
    And considering how Cruise talks about women in general and about being raised by all women (grandmother, mother and older sisters) after his father left, I couldn’t imagine him hitting and verbally abusing a woman the way Mel did. Just can’t picture it.
    That and Tom is so short that he would only reach their kneecaps if he tried to hit someone. 🙂

  58. moocowhead says:

    I get the impression that Tom has a heart of gold, that he has forever tried to be liked & is a people-pleaser to his detriment. He just wants to be cool & has got himself in a big pickle with all this gay/xenu business! Plus he is so goddamn famous maybe he feels he has nowhere to turn.

    I’ll be your friend Tom, I can keep secrets & give selfless advice! 😀