Cruise denies 'dumping' claims
Cruise denies 'dumping' claims
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Thursday, 24, Aug 2006 02:54
Tom Cruise's business partner has hit back at claims that Paramount Pictures severed all ties with his production company, and has insisted instead that it was Cruise who made the decision.
Numerous rumours have been circulating around Hollywood as to why Cruise and Paramount ended their 14-year relationship, including falls in DVD sales and the disappointing returns from Mission Impossible III.
Paramount Pictures claims that it was because of Cruise's "unacceptable" recent conduct.
Sumner Redstone, chairman of Paramount's parent company, Viacom, told the Wall Street Journal: "As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal. His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."
Such behaviour included jumping on sofas on live TV shows to declare his love for his girlfriend, the actress Katie Holmes, his criticism of anti-depressant drugs and his controversial faith in scientology.
Tom Cruise's business partner Paula Wagner has reacted angrily to these claims, saying: "This is outrageous and disrespectful."
According to Wagner, Cruise's production company had already been looking to rival studios for new products.
Far from being a blow to Cruise, Wagner said that the split could only be beneficial.
"This gives us the opportunity to work with every studio and make great films. For us, this is a very new and exciting direction," she said.