Editing Tom Cruise (section)

==== Criticism of psychiatry ====
{{see also|Anti-psychiatry}}
In January 2004, Cruise said, "I think [[psychiatry]] should be outlawed."<ref name=Desai>{{cite journal |last=Desai|first=Nimesh|title=Antipsychiatry: Meeting the challenge|journal=[[Indian Journal of Psychiatry]] |date=October–December 2005|volume=47|issue=4|pages=185–187|doi=10.4103/0019-5545.43048|pmid=20711302|pmc=2921130 |doi-access=free |issn = 0019-5545 }}</ref> In 2005, he criticized actress [[Brooke Shields]] for using the drug [[Paxil]] (paroxetine), an [[antidepressant]] which she used to recover from [[postpartum depression]] after the birth of her first daughter in 2003. Cruise asserted that there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance and that psychiatry is a form of [[pseudoscience]]. In response, Shields argued that Cruise "should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brooke Shields Lashes Out at Tom Cruise|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1067822,00.html|date=June 2, 2005|work=People|location=New York City|access-date=July 8, 2018|archive-date=November 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113165647/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1067822,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> This led to a heated argument between Cruise and [[Matt Lauer]] on NBC's ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' on June 24, 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8344309 | title= In tense moment, Cruise calls Lauer 'glib' | website= [[NBC News]] | date= June 28, 2005 | access-date= July 25, 2019 | archive-date= February 17, 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200217213724/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8344309/ | url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Tom Cruise's Heated Interview With Matt Lauer {{!}} Archives {{!}} TODAY |date=June 2, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFgF1JPNR5E |access-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-date=August 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831015135/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFgF1JPNR5E |url-status=live }}</ref>

Medical authorities view Cruise's comments as furthering the social stigma of mental illness.<ref name="The Lancet-2005">{{cite journal| title= Psychotropic drugs: unhelpful and helpful comments| journal=[[The Lancet]] | publisher=[[Elsevier]]|location=London |volume=366| issue=9480| page=96| date= July 9, 2005 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66841-9 | pmid= 16010708| last1=The Lancet | s2cid=39293746 }}</ref> From ''[[The Lancet]]'', "He may be right that psychotropic drugs are overused, sometimes misused; and that lifestyle changes (and exercise for depression) can be helpful. But he is wrong, as a celebrity, to add to the burden of those with a mental illness, who often fear seeking or continuing treatment because of the stigma still attached to their condition."<ref name="The Lancet-2005" /> Shields called Cruise's comments "a disservice to mothers everywhere".<ref>{{cite news |last=Shields |first=Brooke |author-link=Brooke Shields |work=The New York Times |title=War of Words |date=July 1, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/opinion/01shields.html |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229041546/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/opinion/war-of-words.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In late August 2006, Cruise apologized in person to Shields for his comments.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shields: Cruise apology was 'heartfelt'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-09-02-shields-cruise_x.htm|date=September 2, 2006|work=[[USA Today]]|agency=Associated Press|access-date=June 20, 2011|archive-date=April 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416235909/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-09-02-shields-cruise_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Scientology is well known for its [[Anti-psychiatry|opposition to mainstream psychiatry]] and [[psychoactive drug]]s that are routinely prescribed for treatment.<ref name="vanity"/> It was reported that Cruise's anti-psychiatry actions led to a rift with director [[Steven Spielberg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.myway.com/celebgossip/pgsix/id/09_21_2005_1.html| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050930235723/http://entertainment.myway.com/celebgossip/pgsix/id/09_21_2005_1.html| title=Spielberg in Cruise Meltdown|archive-date=September 30, 2005|work=myway.com}}</ref> Spielberg had reportedly mentioned in Cruise's presence the name of a doctor friend who prescribed psychiatric medication. Shortly thereafter, the doctor's office was [[Picketing|picketed]] by Scientologists, reportedly angering Spielberg.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/07/24/hollywood-ending|title=Hollywood Ending|first=Ken|last=Auletta|date=July 24, 2006|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217213737/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/07/24/hollywood-ending|url-status=live}}</ref>