For many years, Academy Award-nominated actor Tom Cruise has been the most recognizable face in the celebrity-filled Church of Scientology, famously standing up against psychiatry in the past due to his beliefs and getting into controversy many times over - as former church member Leah Remini speaks out about this religion, is Tom Cruise's Scientology name tainted?
Remini recently released a tell-all book about the church she grew up in, "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," where she exposed many eyebrow-raising tales from her time as a member, including how within the church saying anything against the "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" actor was the same as being against the religion - and her stories seem to have hit Tom Cruise's Scientology nerve.
A source close to Nicole Kidman's first husband told Us Weekly that the star is more than troubled with Remini's statements about Tom Cruise and Scientology in her novel and the press tour accompanying it, and the actor thinks her words are a "major betrayal" on the part of Remini.
"Leah is what the church calls a 'suppressive person,' so she's evil in his mind," the actor's friend told the publication about these new Tom Cruise's Scientology statements, via The Daily Mail. "He wipes the memory of any SP out of his life. He's letting the Scientology people discredit her."
Along with John Travolta, Cruise is one of the most avid and public followers of the religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, and it's been reported in the past that Tom Cruise's Scientology affiliations were what prompted his 2000 split from Kidman, as the "Moulin Rouge" actress was considered a "suppressive person" by church authorities.
The Inquisitr reports that, while Cruise won't be addressing Remini directly, he will be giving Oprah Winfrey an interview about the turmoil she has caused against his often controversial religion, which has seen a lot of criticism this year; a few months back, the documentary "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief" made similar claims against the church, also alleging tax fraud.
It's unclear when Tom Cruise's Scientology response to Remini will come.
