Will Smith Defends Tom Cruise

"Hancock" star Will Smith took the time while promoting his new action movie to defend his friend Tom Cruise. The pair have spent a lot of time together in the past year, with Cruise traveling to New York to attend Smith's last premiere, supporting him when he got his star, and co-throwing a welcome party for the Beckhams. Smith has also defended Scientology.

In am interview with USA Today Smith said the following:

Smith has been taking more knocks than usual, primarily for his ties to Cruise and speculation that he has converted to Scientology.

Smith, who was raised Baptist and says he remains Christian (he co-founded the non-denominational Christian church Living Waters in San Fernando Valley), takes such gossip about as seriously as he does marauding space creatures.

"You have to let that roll off you," he says. "There's a natural narcotic my brain must pump, because negativity doesn't last. It's strange to play a guy like Hancock, who can't find something to feel good about. That's the opposite of who I am."

To prepare for the role, he watched W.C. Fields and All in the Family. "W.C. Fields was hilarious being mean to kids. And Archie Bunker was a jerk, but he was hilarious," he says.

"I've got this theory that as long as your characters are harmless, or in pain, they can be funny. Even when they're mean to kids."

He has applied part of that theory to parenting his children, Willow, 7, and Jaden, 9, whom he had with wife Jada Pinkett, and Smith's son from his first marriage, Trey, 15.

"The kids can do anything they want, as long as Daddy thinks it's funny," he says. "And artistically, that's where you need to be, too. You have to find the humor in things."

Still, he's bothered by how the entertainment media handle Cruise's faith. "That's painful for me to see. I've met very few people committed to goodness the way Tom is. We disagree on a lot of things. ... But even with different faiths and different beliefs, at the end of the day, goodness is goodness."

Read whole interview

Comments

[KrishnaCore]

From what I have seen, Scientology is pretty dangerous. I remember reading an article about a journalist who wrote a piece for his newspaper regarding Scientology. His article was quite critical of their practices and treatment of people within the religion. WIthin days, Scientologists showed up in his neighborhood passing out flyers to his neighbors. These flyers stated that this journalist was a convicted rapist, which wasn't true. Needless to say, this guy along with his family were basically chased out or their neighborhood..
Come on, a failed science fiction writer creates a religion that revolves around an alien race and people don't see that as a bit strange.

[edgraham]

I agree, but what about the danger from all religions? Don't they also seem a bit strange?

Don't mean to be sarcastic, but I am tired of the people of the world trying to kill each other because they believe a diffefent nonsense.

Ed Graham

[mcole]

well, maybe if they werent so secretive about their practices..and what kind of "religion" destroys the reputation of someone who disagrees with them?

[thaphenomenalone]

On a unrelated note, its nice to see Will Smith giving back to his community and his people by building a ritzy private school in Hollywood when schools in his city of Philadelphia are crumbling and the kids have no books. Great job Will. You have done your hometown well.

[NoSillyName]

See and hear Tom Cruise rant, rave, laugh hysterically at no obvious stimulus, and never ever make a point as he talks about scientology:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFBZ_uAbxS0&feature=related

Then, if anyone gets the impression that this "religion" has helped TC in any way, please tell us how your view is supported by watching Mr. #2 himself.

[observing]

A bad actors should naturally defend a fellow bad actor. The way these two "act" angered on screen is laughable. But that is the state of acting. Sigh.

[trinity29]

Mr. Smith,

the criticism of Cruise is not against the good things that he does. you can do good things without ever having to believe in any supreme being or space monkeys or whatever form of God or Creator or Supreme being you wish to have faith in. What people are against is Mr. Cruise's support of a corporation that has systematically caused harm to people and their families including the niece of David Miscavige. Whats more dangerous is his condemnation of things he doesn't understand or experience like post partum depression and suggests that vitamins can cure brain imbalance. Practice your faith -- thats your business. Preach your support for a corrupt institution publicly, then the public is free to criticize the support .

[Agentlady007]

..."you can do good things without ever having to believe in any supreme being or space monkeys or whatever form of God or Creator or Supreme being you wish to have faith in"


-SINCE WHEN?

[stubbhead]

Since human beings have been conscious. Humans can engage in positive or negative actions regardless of whether or not they support the dominant religious view or other belief systems.

[theatrediva]

Tom cruise also apologized to Brooke Shields and she isn't holding a grudge, why are the rest of you?
What happened to freedom of speech and freedom of religion? We don't know Tom Cruise or Will Smith.
They appear to be two people who are friends, who are not on drugs, don't require rehab, are faithful to their wives and look after their children and are happy with their lives. What more could anyone ask for?

[andvoodoo2]

Research Scientology and get back to us. It is so much MORE than just a "religion".

[mcthfg]

I couldn't agree more - scientology is a friggin' comedy. And a tragedy.

A comedy that kills people who try to walk out. That's the tragedy.

The dunderheads who came up with the bible lived in a world that hadn't discovered atoms. Your prophet was a b- science fiction writer, who was quoted as saying "The easiest way to control people is to start a religion." What's your excuse for the ridiculous things you believe?

Is that enough research, Xenu?

Hello? Xenu?

[Phasis]

"What more could anyone ask for?"

That they not advocate a phony bologna science fiction religion that abuses its own members. Go to www.exseaorg.com and learn what happens to scientology members who are tricked into signing a billion year contract. Many of these people signed this so-called contract when they are minors, as young as 14-16 years old. Read up on the scamology of scientology front groups like CCHR, Narconon (not to be confused with Narcotics Anonymous), Applied Scholastics, and Criminon (to mention only a few).

Check out www.exscientologykids.com and http://forum.exscn.net (forum where ex-scientologists tell their story) to learn why Will Smith's and Tom Cruise's so-called religion matters.

[GBartrem]

I don't see anything wrong with Tom Cruise, he's only doing the things he likes to do. I don't care for his movies anymore though. He's been cursed by what I call the "John Wayne" effect. Meaning when you watch a movie with Tom in it, you no longer see the character he is playing. You see Tom in costume, and that's it. Lots of actors and actresses end up in this phase when they become super famous.

[UnknownSoldier]

Tom Cruise's problem is that he pissed off his audience (Women) when he married Katie Holmes. Tom Cruise had a loyal following of women between 35-54, they thought he was handsome and fantasized about him. They thought they knew him, to them Tom was the guy in high school they had a crush on. The guy at the office who they would have a fling with but would never dream of making the first move. When Tom Cruise married Katie Holmes they lost all respect for him, he was no longer attractive to them, and now they are angry with him. Katie Holmes to these women is the young new fresh out of college office assistant who doesn't know anything but her breast aren't on her knees. Tom Cruise married her.

[andvoodoo2]

Wow. You REALLY don't know any women, do you?

Check out the comments on the blogs on this site about Brad Pitt who is very much "taken". The positive comments out number negative ones 10-1.
Unlike you, all the women I know live in the real world. They don't develop "a crush on" movie stars they've never met.
Your "perception" of women makes it clear that you are definitely "unknown" to any females other than those YOU'VE "fantasized about".

[UnknownSoldier]

andvoodoo2 stated:
Unlike you, all the women I know live in the real world. They don't develop "a crush on" movie stars they've never met.

You are obviously a lonely man or a gay woman. Whole industries have developed behind what you claim doesn't exist in the real world. Some of us call it Hollywood, and it is our nations second largest export, but I guess you don't get it.

OOOPs my bad I guess people goto the movies because of all the great well written dialogue that is on display. That is why hollywood is filled with ugly actors like Tom and Will and Nicole, Jada, and Katie. I'm pretty certain that the producers never take what an actor looks like when considering them for a role. Which why casting is done without head shots, they just look at the actors resume.

Ooops my bad Despearte House Wives and Sex and the City are hits beacause they are totally fabricated.

[NoSillyName]

Hey, Unknown, this is such a well developed fantasy that I believe it may be YOURS. I don't know even one woman who fits into your vision of a TC obsession.

According to your delusional theory, Nicole didn't matter to the TC fantasizing hordes of hollywood obsessed females acting like 12 year old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert?

You have made me LOL and then question YOUR sanity.

Tom Cruise, the stuff of some hollywood fantasy romance?!

You MUST be kidding. Oh wait... Tom, it that you? Will?

[PaleMail]

Will Smith is "pained" by the media's treatment of Tom Cruise's penchant for promoting Scientology. Give me a break. Both men, multi-millionaire narcissists, cocooned in Hollywood fantasyland have lost touch with the real world. Save your pain, Mr. Smith, for the truly suffering.

[BEHM777]

A man is defending his friend. What is wrong with that?

[thatone]

There is nothing wrong with that. The problem is that Scientology has highly questionable practices and therefore, Smith shouldn't be 'bothered' by the way the media has been handling all this.

[Phasis]

Defending Tom Cruise is akin to defending scientology, which is dangerous scam. Tom is inured from its worst abuses due to his platinum status in the organization. Google David Miscavige. Go to www.xenu.net --scientology is way worse than most people think. Learn about disconnection, the RPF, the Sea Org, and the blue asbestos-ridden Freewinds. Go to widkileaks and read the secret doctrines and policies that the public face of scientology doesn't what you to know about.

Here is a little factoid. Most religions have members who drift away for one reason or another. Scientology (if you can call it a religion since it has no beliefs--only very dangerous and questionable practices) is unique in that virtualy every person who leaves has a horror story to tell; stories which have are remarkably consistent with one another.

I find it shocking that these wealthy movie stars would support a "religion" which has hurt so many people. Where is their compassion for the ex-sea org members whose lives have been virtually ruined by this heartless and soulless organization.

[MomAnon]

Will seems to believe that Tom Cruise has good intentions. May I remind him which road is paved with good intentions in the good ol' cliche? Stalin thought his own intentions were good, too. (I won't invoke Godwin here...) A lot of really awful things have been done by people who believed they knew what was best for everyone else, and Tom Cruise definitely falls into that category.

He draws ire not just because he has chosen to pimp Scientology everywhere he goes, but because he publicly stated that it was wrong for Brooke Shields to tell the world that she had postpartum depression, and that meds and psychiatric treatment worked for her. He called Matt Lauer "glib" in a dismissive tone because Lauer basically said, "But Tom, it worked for her, and it's worked for many others."

The world would be happy to "live and let live" with regard to Tom Cruise and his goofy opinions, if he'd just be a little more restrained and actually have a factual foundation for them. But he doesn't.

[NoSillyName]

Mr. Smith, you're already giving money to scientology.

Beware, you are being seduced.

[CC1]

He makes good 'ole Lord Xenu proud.

[shag11]

Like most friends and relatives, he's in denial about the fact that Cruise brought scorn on himself. He went after Brooke Shields' use of psychiatry for her post-partum depression( you never, ever attack a woman in that way). He then went on to publicly admonish Matt Lauer, while discussing psychiatry, then he jumped on Oprah's couch. Just where was Smith for all of this aberrant behavior. Smith would have been better suited just to keep his mouth shut.

[kellygrrrl]

kiss you career goodbye, Will

[LuvDaH8ters]

Are you serious? Its going to take a lot more than that a 1 bad movie to knock him out.

[wm1066]

well, if your going to bring up his bad movies....
We are discussing his scientology connection, and how that deep sixes celebrities.

[andvoodoo2]

LOL! Smith has Scientology AND a string of bad movies to contend with. But, Scientology will be the Thetan that breaks Xenu's back.