A visibly shaken Tom Cruise finally opened up about the death of his good friend's son -- describing Jett Travolta's death as "horrific" and addressing Scientology's role in the tragedy.
Struggling to find the right words, Cruise addressed the emotional topic during a taping for tomorrow's episode of "The View," where he claimed his religion does not prohibit people from seeing a doctor and getting proper medication.
Filed under: Tom & Katie, John Travolta
76. Jebus Christ, look at photos on gawker.com, they've photoshopped Jett to make him look less overweight!!! The freaks!!!
Posted at 5:22PM on Jan 8th 2009 by jake
77. Listen to his words....."get your PHYSICAL illnesses treated". Scientology does not recognize nor condone the treatment of autism!! They view anything related to psychological, emotional or mental illness as a weakness. Kawasaki disease is a totally treatable illness affecting YOUNG children. At 16, Jett Travolta would not be dying from any complications of Kawasaki disease. Either way, the boy is gone and John and Kelly will have to live with whatever they did or DID NOT do for their son.
Posted at 5:23PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Sandbox
78. Sorry to be so superficial but her looks good. He got rid of the "little boy" bangs and looks like his hair is lighter too. And did he have some work done on his face? Sure looks it.
I think he is sincere in his beliefs just has problems articulating. Whenever i've watched him speak before, i've found his train of thought a bit difficult to follow. He jumps, verbally, all over the place and seems as if he is searching for words. Maybe a communication handicap.
I think we would all feel better about him if he were at the Travolta"s side. But then again maybe he thought that all the media attention would detract from Jett's service. He is a hard man to read.
Posted at 5:27PM on Jan 8th 2009 by nira k
79. Quote: 66. The only website that has the cajones to tell the truth about this tragic situation is Gawker.com. Travolta's longtime "close friend," was his child's "nanny," and had absolutely no training in child care, treatment of autism, epilepsy or special needs of any kind. He did seem to enjoy an unusually affectionate relationship with Mr. Travolta. I have no use for a "religion" that encourages it's adherents to deny their sexual preference, mental illness, deny treatment and necessary medication to their children and allow them to suffer in isolation like this poor boy did for sixteen long years. If he'd been born to any other parents, even those on Medicaid, he might have gotten the help and attention he needed and have been with us today. Poor boy.
Posted at 5:10PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Naj
I completely agree. Well said.
Posted at 5:29PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Jill
80. I think it is very interesting that all Tom could say about Jett is that he saw him when he was 6 months old.
Now, that's quite a "friendship" that he has with the Travoltas, huh?
As for Barbara, you can bet that she had to clear what she was going to ask Tom about. Nothing gets sprung on
Mr. Cruise.
Unfortunately, he is not good enough without a script to make himself sound intelligent.
Scientologists do not believe in psychotic drugs and they use "vitamins" for everything else.
Posted at 5:44PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Things that make you go hmmm
81. I do have sympathy for Jett and wish his soul r.i.p. but man why are people so selective with their sympathy when a young man was shot in his back by one who we as taxpayers pay to protect us!? Where is the national outcry and sympathy for that??? Forget about race man look at what we as humans do to eachother and wonder why this country is picking up speed towards an inevitable downfall!!!
Tom looks very healthy to. Good for him!!!
Posted at 5:49PM on Jan 8th 2009 by BlindManTrynaTackleMichaelVick
82. umm umm durrrr........ it's just.... ummm ahhh durrr.....
Wow.. I think the aliens sucked out all his brains!!
Maybe the scientology-cult is right!!
Posted at 5:56PM on Jan 8th 2009 by SuziON
83. I thought it was nice of Tom to say that..I mean what did you want him to do, jump in the crematorium with Jett...
Posted at 6:04PM on Jan 8th 2009 by xoxo gossip girl
84. I saw that interview myself. HE WAS ACTING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,ACTING!!!!! Hes a very bad actor promoting a very bad movie people,saw an opportunity for advancing it with a not so OSCAR worthy PERFORMANCE,please!! Scientology is for the birds people,L. Ron Hubbard was an iodiot, who has followers who are even bigger iodiots! Wake up, everything they do is to promote their cause! Wanda
Posted at 6:07PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Wanda
85. I just love seeing how NONE of you know either Tom or John or any of their families, yet you judge them like you do. For all you know, the families could read this at some time. Why post such hateful things? It does not take much to see Tom as being choked up and at a loss for words, having been in contact with his friend.
My sympathies to the Travolta family.
Posted at 6:08PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Rebecca
86. Who in the world believes anything Tom Cruise says? He has a huge investment in Scientology.....oh and I love when the press says he was noticibly shaken...............HE IS AN ACTOR (sort of)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only thing on Toms mind is money for Scientology.......and getting Jett's Manny Jeff away from John.
Posted at 6:08PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Chuck
87. Why would Tom go on any talk show right now? Did he not figure he was going to be asked about Scientiology? I read Lisa Marie Presley said something along the lines of "we do advocate going to doctors for medical conditions yadda yadda yadaa. I would like to hear from the real scientiologist . Forget the "medical conditions" you want to talk about, talk about what we all are asking you - about the mental medical conditions - autism, epilepsy, neurological disorders - those medical conditions. What would you advise a parent of a child with those conditions to do? How are those people treated and thought of because Christians do not think of them as degraded. If you feel so strongly about your beliefs, share with us the truth and facts about mental medical conditions? We want to know. Stop skirting the issues with statements like "of course we seek medical help for medical conditions" That says nothing. Address mental medical conditions?
Posted at 6:11PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Fred
88. Sickening to watch Tom skirt the issue of medications. Scientologists don`t believe in epilepsy meds or any drug that could have any psychological effect. They even frown on aspirin! Google "Tory Christman" and/or go to "magoo44" on youtube to read and watch videos of an ex-scientologist who was encouraged to go off her epilepsy medication and almost died. Her story is by no means uncommon. Scientology has no problem lying when it comes to bad PR for their "church". Sure, they`ll tell you to go to a doctor for a broken bone-but you can`t take any pain meds for it. Sickening CULT!
Posted at 6:11PM on Jan 8th 2009 by scntruth
89. Notice he says they get medication for physical problems NOT Mental issues (Autism)
Posted at 6:14PM on Jan 8th 2009 by J
90. Wow, first time I looked close at a pic of Tom....but he's really showing his age and yikes! Hair implants!!
Posted at 6:18PM on Jan 8th 2009 by NShado
You can e-mail us here or call the TMZ tip line at
1-888-847-9869
