The dating scene in Hollywood is a strange landscape. Couples break up and make up in the blink of an eye. It's hard to keep up, unless they're super-high-profile celebrities whose every moves are tracked. Once upon a time, in a land where the world still sort of made sense and social media didn't reign supreme, Tom Cruise was one of those celebrities.
You may remember the roller coaster that was Tom-Kat. Tom Cruise appeared on Oprah to promote his film, War of the Worlds. Instead, he started jumping manically atop Oprah's couch, proclaiming his love for Dawson's Creek alum Katie Holmes. This was also when Cruise's involvement in Scientology started gaining a lot of attention. He became involved through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. Rumors indicated it was a point of contention in his marriages to both Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.
As Scientology became more synonymous with Tom Cruise, a lot of bizarre stories started to emerge about the actor and how the religion affected his life, career, and relationships. It's been a while since we had any fresh news on that front — until now, when Scarlett Johansson's name came into the mix.
Dating Tom Cruise Is a Process
Tom Cruise does not date like you or me. There are no dating apps. There are no random encounters. Everything that happens in his dating life is well-calculated, if rumors are to be believed.
Vanity Fair did a special report following the announcement of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' divorce, spurred by rumors that there was an "auditioning" process to date the megastar.
The report told the story of actress Nazanin Boniadi, who was recruited by Scientology officials for a "special Scientology project," which she later found out was dating Tom Cruise, prior to his marriage to Katie Holmes.
Nazanin was made to sign a number of confidentiality agreements in her pursuit of the relationship. While she did have feelings for the actor, she was troubled by the influence of Scientology officials in their relationship.
A number of her actions were ultimately deemed offensive by both Tom Cruise and Scientology officials. Despite the fact she was living with and sharing a bedroom with Tom, she found herself shut out. Shortly afterward, they moved her to a "Scientology Celebrity Center" in Florida.
When Nazanin confided in a friend at the center about her unusual experience, she was reported and punished with physical labor. She was eventually able to break with the church entirely and move on with her life.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes became a Scientology-approved item just three months later. Katie converted to Scientology just two months after they began dating, and the two announced their engagement. By that October, she announced her pregnancy with the couple's only child, Suri. A year later, they were married. The couple was married for six years before divorcing in 2012, at which time Nazanin's story went public.
Actress Leah Remini, who has spoken out about Scientology since her break from the church, has confirmed having knowledge of Nazanin's story both as it happened and in the aftermath.
A Former Scientologist Recently Spoke Out on Tom Cruise
Actor Brendan Tighe appeared on Megyn Kelly Today to share his experiences with Scientology. During this interview, he mentioned Scarlett Johansson as a suitor who "auditioned" to date Tom Cruise. "By name, the only one I recognized was Scarlett Johansson. That particular report just said that it didn't go well. And that another actress, Erika Christensen, had to disconnect from Scarlett Johansson because it didn’t go well. That was in that report."
Scarlett Johansson Was Outraged at the Accusation
Scarlett Johansson spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the accusations in a statement. “The very idea of any person auditioning to be in a relationship is so demeaning. I refuse for anyone to spread the idea that I lack the integrity to choose my own relationships. Only a man aka Brendan Tighe would come up with a crazy story like that.”
Luckily for ScarJo, most people think the story sounds pretty far-fetched.
Some have been quick to point out that this is old news, with Scarlett having explained the mix-up that put her in Tom Cruise's orbit long ago, although she hasn't made any further comment.
The Church of Scientology has refuted the claims made by Brandon Tighe, as well as THR's special report.
Tom Cruise's Latest Relationship Is Allegedly Scientology-Approved
These days, Tom Cruise is linked to his Mission Impossible 6 co-star Vanessa Kirby. While the relationship is in its early stages, that doesn't mean it isn't serious, as Tom and Katie Holmes were engaged just eight weeks after meeting. An insider told In Touch, "He’s blown her away with his endless charm and energy. He thinks she’s perfect to be his next wife. He wants to make her the next Mrs. Tom Cruise."
The circumstances surrounding Tom Cruise's love life are strange, to say the least. It may be Scientology that allows him to feel it appropriate to "audition" people for relationships. It might also be his own eccentricities. One thing is for certain regardless: Scarlett Johansson has never wanted anything to do with the whole ordeal.
