newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

In 2006, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone terminated New Jersey native Tom Cruise's contract with Paramount after "Mission: Impossible 3." Redstone explained, "He's a terrific actor. But we don't think that someone who effectuates creative suicide and costs the company revenue should be on the lot."

Cruise can have that effect on people. From his breakthrough performance in 1983's "Risky Business" onwards, Cruise has been an A-lister in movies. But while promoting "War of the Worlds" by Steven Spielberg, Cruise made an appearance jumping on Oprah Winfrey's couch and proclaiming his love for new girlfriend Katie Holmes.

A New Yorker report surfaced this week that Church of Scientology was investigated by the FBI over allegations of human trafficking. Cruise reportedly requested the Church to custom-build him a luxury SUV.

The issue had arisen because Cruise had become embroiled in a war of words with the actress Brooke Shields, who graduated from Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey and attended Princeton, over her use of antidepressants to combat postnatal depression.

Several emails have since emerged which suggest underpaid staffers put almost 9,000 hours into the trailer's construction, earning only $50 a week for their work on the project for Cruise.

According to x17online.com, former Scientology manager Mark Rathbun exposed various internal emails sent to Scientology boss Dave Miscavige (Tom's best man in his wedding to Holmes), which give us a peek into Tom's strange requests for the design of his luxury bus ... which also came equipped with a "Purification Rundown Program", so wife Katie Holmes could begin her entry into the Church.

After 34 years as a Scientologist, Hollywood screenwriter and director Paul Haggis spoke to The New Yorker in an extra-long feature, revealing secrets of the Church.

The Huffington Post reports allegations splashed against Scientology in the article involve David Miscavige, the head of the Church and close friend of Cruise. Allegedly, he ordered workers to do tiresome, dirty work to customize a building, rebuild motorcycles, spend over a year fixing a boat and much more for Cruise and the Church.

And while federal law forbids the heads of tax-exempt organizations from receiving excess financial or material benefit, many ex-members say that Miscavige lived a very lavish lifestyle. He reportedly flew on chartered jets, wore custom-made shoes, had an impressive collection of expensive cars and motorcycles, and even had two chefs.

The investigation apparently centers on accusations of trafficking and unpaid labor and the article explores the "reeducation" camps to which Scientologists that fail to live up to their religious duties are sent.

Cruise married Mimi Rogers on May 9, 1987 and although they divorced, Rogers is believed to have introduced Cruise to Scientology. The star is the church's "second in command in all but name." Cruise has said Scientology helped him overcome dyslexia.

Cruise has campaigned for Scientology to be recognized as a religion in Europe. He lobbied politicians in France and Germany, where the legal systems regard Scientology as a cult and business. David Miscavige awarded Cruise Scientology's Freedom Medal of Valor in late 2004.

According to imdb.com, by the time Cruise was 14, he had attended 15 different schools in the US and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his mother and her new husband.

Businessinsider.com reports Cruise is in final negotiations to play a lead role in the big-screen adaptation of Broadway hit "Rock of Ages.