Why GQ Didn’t Ask Tom Cruise Anything About Scientology in His ‘Digger’ Cover Story
Celebrity

Why Tom Cruise Wasn't Asked About Scientology in Rare Profile

The writer behind the action star's rare new interview explains why he skipped questions about the actor's controversial personal life.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

Tom Cruise has long maintained a reputation as one of Hollywood's most guarded figures, rarely granting deep print interviews. When the legendary action icon finally agreed to participate in a rare profile to promote his project *Digger*, curiosity reached a high point. However, as fans and industry insiders devoured the long-form feature, many noted that one major subject was completely missing: his controversial ties to Scientology. The total absence of any inquiries regarding the organization sparked widespread discussion online. Readers wondered whether the topic was strictly off-limits or if the interviewer simply decided to steer clear of the sensitive subject. Now, the writer behind the feature has broken his silence, detailing the exact process that led to the decision.

Why wasn't Tom Cruise asked about Scientology?

During a recent podcast appearance discussing high-profile media interviews, the journalist explained how he prepared for his time with the movie star. Before sitting down with Cruise, the writer thoroughly examined decades of past press coverage, archiving nearly every major feature ever written about the actor. Through that research, the interviewer discovered that Cruise had actually addressed his religious beliefs quite extensively in older interviews. According to the reporter, Cruise’s historical responses about Scientology were virtually identical every single time the subject came up. Because the answers never varied, the journalist concluded that pressing him on the matter again would yield little new insight for readers.

Tom Cruise in the story: Why Tom Cruise Wasn't Asked About Scientology in Rare Profile
Tom Cruise in the story: Why Tom Cruise Wasn't Asked About Scientology in Rare Profile

What did the interviewer focus on instead?

Rather than repeating well-documented questions from past decades, the journalist chose to focus on Cruise’s unique standing in contemporary culture. The writer explained that he was far more interested in exploring Cruise's identity as a reclusive, larger-than-life movie star who has spent decades commanding the global box office. The interview ultimately prioritized Cruise’s intense commitment to cinema, his work ethic, and his thoughts surrounding *Digger*. While some readers expected a grilling over his personal life, the journalist maintained that capturing the rare essence of an enigmatic Hollywood titan produced a much more compelling story. Ultimately, securing the sit-down required navigating what was on and off the table, but the interviewer stood by his thematic approach. By shifting the focus away from old headlines, the profile offered a fresh look at how the veteran actor continues to operate at the absolute center of the entertainment industry.

Free accountJoin the argumentComment on every story, save what you like and follow your stars.Create account

The photos · 2

Why GQ Didn’t Ask Tom Cruise Anything About Scientology in His ‘Digger’ Cover Story
Tom Cruise in the story: Why Tom Cruise Wasn't Asked About Scientology in Rare Profile

Watch

Clips tied to this story.

YouTubeYouTube clip

More like this

Get the pop news brief

One daily email. The biggest celebrity, music and TV stories, no filler.

Reader reaction

No comments yet — be the first to weigh in.

People also ask

Why wasn't Scientology mentioned in Tom Cruise's latest interview?
The interviewer explained that after reviewing decades of past press coverage, he found Cruise always gave identical answers about Scientology, so he decided to focus on fresh topics instead.
What project was Tom Cruise promoting in his recent profile?
Tom Cruise participated in the rare sit-down interview in the lead-up to his feature film project Digger.