Tom Cruise on Access Hollywood tonight

[PurplePassion]

Personally, I think he''s hit a mid-life crisis!!

 

[Cath]

I saw part of the Today Show interview this morning, and read the rest online. Tom definitely has an opinion of how things are. At times, he didn''t answer Matt''s very reasonable questions but instead just kept spouting his beliefs. At one point Matt says "We could go around in circles all day" because Tom isn''t answering the questions and half of what he''s saying doesn''t make sense!

Here''s a transcript of the interview:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8343367/


And a snippet from the interview:

Lauer: But Tom, if she said that this particular thing helped her feel better, whether it was the antidepressants or going to a counselor or psychiatrist, isn''t that enough?

Cruise: Matt, you have to understand this. Here we are today, where I talk out against drugs and psychiatric abuses of electric shocking people, okay, against their will, of drugging children with them not knowing the effects of these drugs. Do you know what Aderol is? Do you know Ritalin? Do you know now that Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that?

Lauer: The difference is —

Cruise: No, no, Matt.

Lauer: This wasn''t against her will, though.

Cruise: Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt —

Lauer: But this wasn''t against her will.

Cruise: Matt, I''m asking you a question.

 

[FireGoddess]

I was going to post on Matt Lauer''s and Tom Cruise''s "argument" but blueroses beat me to it....however I still just have to add, Tom Cruise is such a JACK@SS!!!!!! ARGH!!! I am soooooooo sure Tom Cruise looked up all the scientific literature on ritalin, objectively determined the validity of the experimental designs and conclusions, and has now become an expert on the entire subject. I just want to smack him.

Whereas before I didn''t care one way or the other if he was in a movie/ doing an interview/ etc....now I actively refuse to watch anything he''s in, any episode of any show he''s doing an interview on....freaking pompous jerk.

There. I feel much better.

 

[blueroses]

Seriously, it just makes me boil inside. I agree that children are over-drugged, but mental illness is a LEGITIMATE and serious issue, and I am just stupipified by his arrogant claims to expert status because he''s apparently read all kinds of studies (read: Scientology propaganda).

Nice work alienating at least 1/2 of your fan base, Tom. Jackas$. This never would have happened under Pat Kingsley.

 

[DonaBella]

Atta girl!!!

Some of us weren''t too keen on Tom Cruise to begin with...now we are SURE he is not our cup of tea...

 

[blueroses]

Seriously, when you've managed to offend AL ROKER--like, the most overly-amiable guy in the world--you've got problems. Check out his comments from the MSN blog:

______
______
" June 24, 2005 | 8:18 a.m.
Matt's interview with Tom Cruise (Al Roker)

Hey gang, so did you see Matt's interview this morning with Tom Cruise? Okay, I congratulate people who are passionate about their beliefs, their faith and their love. What frightens me a little bit is when that passion tries to steam roll others. I don't want anyone coming after me for knocking Scientology — let's be up front about that. Someone's religion is their deal as long as you don't hurt me or my loved ones with your beliefs, I'm cool with yours.

But I think Tom oversteps the line when he starts taking on people who use certain drugs to deal with either depression, mental illness or other problems. Can there be abuses, troubles and misdiagnosis? You bet. But there is too much evidence that points to real help for certain people.

Is Brooke Shields better because certain drugs helped her post partum depression? You have to look to her and her family for that answer, but it is not Tom Cruise's place to take her to task for her choices. Did they hurt Tom? Did they somehow cause problems for him? Hey, I have relatives who were on Ritalin. A couple it helped, a few it didn't. You don't see me on some crusade, bashing people who did nothing to me.

Just as we should shut up about wondering if Tom's relationship with Katie Holmes is a publicity stunt, Tom oughta pipe down about people he doesn't know about situations he hasn't experienced. You're an actor, not a med student. But the best part about being American is that you can say whatever the heck you want in this country, as loopy and as goofy as it might sound.

So let the war of the words continue — that's what America is all about."


_____
_____
As for me, I will continue to be so grateful that high-school drop-out Cruise has blessed me with the illuminating knowledge that my M.D. psychiatrist w/ over 30 years of practice wasn't able to provide. Thank you Tom Cruise!!

 

[teebee]

Ugh, this guy is so out of control I can''t stand it... makes my stomach churn...

Seriously, the Katie crap was one thing... but this is very dangerous to be dispensing medical and psychiatric ''advice'' to people who are really suffering. And saying that Brooke Shields is irresponsible for writing her book and saying that medication worked for her???? C''mon, how irresponsible is it to suggest that people should turn to vitamins to cure depression instead of medication dispensed under the supervision of a health professional??? Considering the vitamin and supplement industry is virtually unregulated, I find that to be a highly irresponsible (almost criminal) judgement for him to make.

I am in total agreement with you blueroses, his arrogant and superior attitude is so offensive and he is completely alienating his fans... I feel like I''m watch the anatomy of his career destruction interview by interview...

Enough.

 

[saturn]

My opinion of Tom Cruise was never that high to begin with, but has definitely taken a dive with the events of the past few months. Not that I care that much, but the whole Katie Holmes thing seems too over-the-top. Like he''s trying way too hard to convince us.

The whole anti-psychiatry thing really ticks me off though. From this morning''s interview:

When Lauer mentioned Cruise''s earlier criticism of Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressants, Cruise told the "Today" show co-host he didn''t know what he was talking about.

"You don''t know the history of psychiatry. I do," Cruise said.

The interview became more heated when Lauer, who said he knew people who had been helped by the attention-deficit disorder drug Ritalin, asked Cruise about the effects of the drug.

"Matt, Matt, you don''t even -- you''re glib," Cruise responded. "You don''t even know what Ritalin is. If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt, OK. That''s what I''ve done."

Hey, Tom Cruise, guess what! We actually have a name for people who "know the history of psychiatry" and "evaluate and read the research papers" - as a career, even. They''re called . . . . . Psychiatrists!

 

[Cath]

UGH he was so condescending in the interview it was unbelievable!

 

[icekid]

Date: 6/24/2005 4:28:45 PM
Author: saturn

''You don''t know the history of psychiatry. I do,'' Cruise said.

The interview became more heated when Lauer, who said he knew people who had been helped by the attention-deficit disorder drug Ritalin, asked Cruise about the effects of the drug.

''Matt, Matt, you don''t even -- you''re glib,'' Cruise responded. ''You don''t even know what Ritalin is. If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt, OK. That''s what I''ve done.''

Hey, Tom Cruise, guess what! We actually have a name for people who ''know the history of psychiatry'' and ''evaluate and read the research papers'' - as a career, even. They''re called . . . . . Psychiatrists!

well said, saturn!


ooooomigod!!! i was watching the today show this morning while i was working out, and i have to say i wanted to STRANGLE tom cruise.

i don''t understand how he can even PRETEND to know what these drugs do. has he recently taken organic chemistry? pharmacology? if not, he cannot even begin to understand the scientific research papers that have been written on ritalin or anti-depressants. brushed up on your stats lately, tom? how about neurotransmitters? i have worked SO HARD so i can even begin to understand when i am reading research papers, and the idea that he has any idea what''s going on is completely laughable. what a quack!

ohhh i also loved the comment that because ritalin is used by some as a street drug now, it lacks efficacy as a medication. are you joking??? some kind of ass backward logic!

if there is one thing i hate, it''s misinformation- especially about something as important as health issues. what a huge jerk.

 

[jellybean]

You want to know the real sad thing -- people will BELIEVE what TC is saying! I''m a pharmacist -- I had a woman walk into my pharmacy Monday night with a prescription for an anti-depressant. It was a renewal of the drug she has been on for a couple of years. This woman comes into my pharmacy quite often so I know her pretty well. Anyway, we started talking about anti-depressants and she brings up the whole TC idea of how anti-depressants are bad, ya-da, ya-da and maybe she should not get this prescription and instead try a multi-vitamin! We were pretty slow so I sat with her and talked to her for about 15 minutes and thankfully convinced her that this is between her and her physician and that she needed to talk to him and not just go off them cold turkey b/c TC thinks they''re bad. Don''t get me wrong - I am all for not taking unecessary medication, but this is for doctors and their patients to discuss.

How many other people are out there listening to TC and thinking -- ooo, these are bad, I''m just going to stop them right now! Is he going to help them with with withdrawl symptoms? With rebound depression?

He pisses me off!

Sorry, I''ll get off my soapbox now.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/24/2005 7:02:17 PM
Author: jellybean
You want to know the real sad thing -- people will BELIEVE what TC is saying!

I''m concerned about TC''s influence as well.

On a private yahoo list I''m on, one woman said that everyone should stop bashing Tom because he has every right to speak his opinion. Obviously there is a huge difference between an actor''s crappola thinking-process and MEDICAL advice but not everyone sees this.

The same woman also mentioned that she thinks Tom is a great actor and is cute. She actually used these comments in her "let''s be nice to Tom" defense. He''s a great actor so let him talk all the sh*t he wants. . .

 

[teebee]

Date: 6/24/2005 7:02:17 PM
Author: jellybean
You want to know the real sad thing -- people will BELIEVE what TC is saying! I''m a pharmacist -- I had a woman walk into my pharmacy Monday night with a prescription for an anti-depressant. It was a renewal of the drug she has been on for a couple of years. This woman comes into my pharmacy quite often so I know her pretty well. Anyway, we started talking about anti-depressants and she brings up the whole TC idea of how anti-depressants are bad, ya-da, ya-da and maybe she should not get this prescription and instead try a multi-vitamin! We were pretty slow so I sat with her and talked to her for about 15 minutes and thankfully convinced her that this is between her and her physician and that she needed to talk to him and not just go off them cold turkey b/c TC thinks they''re bad. Don''t get me wrong - I am all for not taking unecessary medication, but this is for doctors and their patients to discuss.

How many other people are out there listening to TC and thinking -- ooo, these are bad, I''m just going to stop them right now! Is he going to help them with with withdrawl symptoms? With rebound depression?

He pisses me off!

Sorry, I''ll get off my soapbox now.

Oh, that is just so sad that someone would be so influenced by a celebrity to even consider something like that!!

Exactly my point that TC is acting so irresponsibly that in my opinion it is borderline criminal. He is a celebrity, not a doctor - but regardless, he is well-known and influencial and people will actually take what he is saying as gospel... Good grief... Tom Cruise can''t even pronounce half of the words in a scientific research paper, let alone even begin to comprehend the contents and results...

Seriously, what happens if someone who is seriously disturbed listens to this man & then commits some horrifying act after going off of his or her meds??? I''d like to see him try to convince me that Andrea Yates and her 5 (?) children could have been ''saved'' by her taking some vitamins...

 

[Libster]

Tom Cruise

What has happened to this man?! It just seems like much more than a mid-life crisis. He is so unstable with his antics of late. I just can't believe Katie Holme's family isn't concerned for their daughter. I'm scared for her

 

[FireGoddess]

Y'know, I read the transcript of Matt Lauer and Tom Cruise's discussion on the Today Show, and then I watched it again on msn.com just now. And it infuriated me all over again. (You think I'd know better.

) Anyway, I encourage everyone to watch it because you can REALLY see how absolutely ridiculous and flawed Tom Cruise's arguments are. He truly believes he knows everything about the "history of psychiatry" and about how people should be medically treated. He actually SAID that "there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance in a human being." WTF???? I almost stopped right there but I couldn't because he just kept getting MORE ridiculous. And the more he talked, the more it was obvious that he does not care for anyone's opinion but his own. As in, the only way is HIS way.

I think my feelings about him have plummeted to utter disgust...and disdain. And if Katie Holmes can sit there (she was at the interview, just off camera) and listen to him spew his BS and still smile the entire time and agree with this idiot, then clearly she needs a whack to the head as well.

There is NO rock big enough for my ring finger to have to put up with that jerk. I know - I know - I can't believe I said that, but I wouldn't even take Elizabeth Taylor's 50 ct EC "ice skating rink" to stand next to that idiot.

 

[WTNLVR]

Sorry, but as a psychologist I see this all too often. What is Tom''s response to a woman who murders her child due to post- partum depression?- God''s will?

 

[FireGoddess]

Yeah, what he said about the whole Brooke Shields thing was not that post partum depression doesn't exist, but that instead of "psychotropic drugs" (direct quote) to alleviate the symptoms she can work it out through exercise and taking vitamins. Verbatim. Ugh, just want to slap him. And stuff vitamins down his throat and throw him on a hamster wheel.

 

[diamondfan]

I also think it is especially wrong for a man who will NEVER know what post partum issues (any degree) feel like to spout this ignorant hogwash. I know very wonderful healthy women who upon giving birth were spiraling downward in ppd and thankfully had access to good health care, psychiatric being a HUGE part of the treatment. I never realized that Tom Cruise took a trip through med school on the way to danicing in his skivvies and flashing his vampire teeth...guess he has hidden skills...now I wish he would just disappear into obscurity and leave us in peace! this marriage should be interesting...

 

[Momoftwo]

I''m sorry, but, my opinion is that we as the public have helped create these "monsters". They really believe their own press. (Think People, etc) Anyone who thinks they really "know" a celebrity and how "good" they are are deceiving themselves. How well do you know your neighbors or even some family members? How can anyone possibly know TC or Michael Jackson or any of them? It''s all about publicity and money. They''re being used as well as using. They''re told where to go, what to wear and usually what to say by their "handlers". Too many people are so lonely and gullible that they believe what a celebrity says because they see them on tv and the screen and think they know them. It''s sad as well as pathetic. TC is way out of line and sounds like he needs psychiatric help and medication to me. His behavior is socially unacceptable and to tell anyone that "He knows" because he did some research. What research? Scientology provided info? That''s arrogant and smacks of narcicism and total self-involvment as well as feelings of superiority. Kind of like most dictators are, megalomaniacs. Usually that kind of behavior leads to crash and burn. The fact is most celebrities are not as intelligent as your average college graduate and show poor judgement in how they tend to live their lives. The percentages that have gone through drug rehab and eating disorder clinics is many more times than the general population. It''s not normal and neither are most of them. I''m sure Matt Lauer loved that interview and at the very least the network did. It got lots of press on the other networks news tonight. It''s all about the $ in TV.

 

[fire&ice]

I saw the Matt Lauer interview. It was like watching a train wreck. He seems out of control.

That said - how many threads have been on TC? I think we are up to 4 or 5 w/ PAGES written. He sure is getting a lot of press time.

In the end, like anyone else, he''s just doing a job. He''s an actor. That''s what he does. No more. No less. I don''t understand the facisnation for Hollywood. And, I certainly wouldn''t listen to a word he says unless it''s on the screen.