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Tom Cruise is no stranger to controversies and is in fact one of the most controversial people in the film industry today. Although he is a prolific actor and an even better action hero, his life outside the film industry and public opinions have left fans feeling alienated and shocked, to say the least.
A member and follower of the Church of Scientology, over the years there have been more than a few instances where Cruise’s eccentric behavior and opinions caused a huge uproar among fans and critics.
While one example is his infamous interview in 1999 onLate Show with David Letterman, his most controversial moment was when he publicly criticized actress Brooke Shields for her use of antidepressants to treat postpartum depression.
This single incident turned several of the megastar’s female fans against him, who were left shocked by his lack of empathy and understanding towards mental health issues. While Cruise did apologize back then, Shields recently revisited the issue in her recently released memoir. So, here is a look at the entire saga, what Cruise said, how Brooke Shields responded, and what her take on the events is almost two decades later.
What did Tom Cruise say about Brooke Shields over two decades ago?
Brooke Shieldshad given birth to her first child, daughter Rowan, in the year 2003. But the happiness of being a first-time mother soon turned into a nightmare when she ended up going through various mental health struggles, including postpartum depression. In her 2005 memoir,Down Came the Rain,the actress shared with the world her experience and detailed her struggles.
Courageously sharing her problems with women across the world, hoping to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues and how postpartum depression is a real and unbearable challenge, the actress found an unlikely critic inTom Cruise. While onThe Today Showwith Matt Lauer, the actor went on to criticize the actress for her use of antidepressants.
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Starting off with that he has never agreed with psychiatry and that he does really care about Brooke Shields, Cruise went on to rant that the anti-depressants and similar drugs used in the field to cure patients ‘mask the problem.’ Apart from appearing pretty heated up, Cruise stated thatthere is no such thing as a chemical imbalanceeven though he stated that he is not saying postpartum depression is not real.
Adding on that all such things can be treated by vitamins and exercises, the actor appeared too critical of such drugs, referring to them asdangerous,mind-altering antipsychotic drugs. Cruise then claimed that with Shields, it is a case of misinformation since she did not understand the history of psychiatry.
How did Brooke Shields respond to Tom Cruise’s dismissive comments?
Naturally, Tom Cruise’s comments caused an uproar among fans and the general public, raising questions about the impact of celebrity influence on public understanding of mental health. Back then, Shields did not back down, and later in an op-ed in theNew York Times, titledWar of Words, the actress stood up for herself andhundreds of thousands of women who have suffered from postpartum depression.
Comments like those made by Tom Cruise are a disservice to mothers everywhere. To suggest that I was wrong to take drugs to deal with my depression, and that instead I should have taken vitamins and exercised shows an utter lack of understanding about postpartum depression and childbirth in general. If any good can come of Mr. Cruise’s ridiculous rant, let’s hope that it gives much-needed attention to a serious disease.
The actress then went on to counter Cruise’s claims that there was no such thing as ‘chemical imbalance,’ by detailing what causes postpartum depression. Listing statistics of how many women go through the same thing and detailing some harrowing incidents from when she was going through it, the actress called for an increased focus on mothers after childbirth and spreading awareness about postpartum depression.
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Brooke also stated that without the medication she would not have become the loving parent she is today and that the medication saved her life as well as her family. Ending her op-ed with—It’s not the history of psychiatry, but it is my history, personal and real, her op-ed resonated with millions of women across the world, and many applauded her for standing up to a megastar like Tom Cruise the way she did.
How does Brooke Shields feel about her ‘War of Words’ with Tom Cruise today?
It has been nearly two decades since Tom Cruise criticized Brooke Shields for using antidepressants to cure her postpartum depression. Recently, in her new book,Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman, the actress recalled the controversial event again.
While she did previously call the whole saga ‘ridiculous’ in her 2023 documentary,Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, the actress had also revealed in 2006 during an appearance onThe Tonight Show with Jay Lenothat Cruise had come over to her house and offered a heartfelt apology (viaCBS News). However, recalling the apology again, Shields in her latest book stated thatit wasn’t the world’s best apology, but it’s what he was capable of, and I accepted it.
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Stating that it was motherhood that ultimately pushed her to take a stand for herself, Shields acknowledged that if something similar had happened before she became a mother, she would have beencontent to sit back while this very famous man hijackedher experience toadvance his own (deluded) agenda. Adding on that she would have been satisfied thathis behavior would speak for itself, she would have even regretted sharing the story in the past.
However, times were different back then and eventually, Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields did resolve their differences as the actress was invited to Cruise’s wedding with Katie Holmes in 2006 (viaNew York Post).
Meanwhile, this single incident serves as a stark reminder of how uninformed opinions can perpetuate harmful stereotypes about mental illness, undermine scientific evidence, and marginalize those who seek help through medically-approved treatments, especially when ‘celebrity advocacy’ comes along in this equation.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
