Report: Tom Cruise's Attorney Fires Back Over 'Disgraceful, Lurid' Story
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Hollywood Reporter says Tom Cruise's attorney, Bertram Fields, is threatening to sue the National Enquirer's publisher for a story he describes as "disgraceful," "lurid" and filled with "disgusting lies."
In their recent cover story, the Enquirer's headline blared "Inside Tom's House Of Horrors!" across its front page.
The story claimed "the real Cruise" is a "monster" as well as alleging he abused soon-to-be ex-wife, actress Katie Holmes.
The article also said Cruise made daughter Suri stay in a "tiny, windowless room" for five months.
Fields sent American Media, the Enquirer's publisher, a letter on July 11 saying their article "trumpeting false and vicious lies" will cause Cruise "hundreds of millions of dollars of professional and personal damages, for which we intend to hold American Media, and everyone who participated in this perpetuation of this scurrilous attack, jointly and severally liable."
The letter went on to defend the quality of the actors' family life against the tabloid publication's characterization: "Your cover tells the world in huge red and yellow headlines that Mr. Cruise's home is a 'House of Horrors!' Mr. Cruise's home, which you have pictured, is by no means a 'house of horrors.' It is a gracious and loving family home."
Fields' three-page missive also pointed out that while the couple was divorcing, "their relationship was generally a loving one."
As for the windowless room, Fields wrote, "Mr. Cruise's home in Telluride, like his home in Beverly Hills, is a pleasant and loving home. Suri was not forced to stay for five months in a tiny windowless room. She spent most of her time with Tom and Katie. She slept in a nursery adjoining their bedroom. It has a window."
The letter concluded, "These disgusting lies will be there for all time, to be read by his children, and, someday, his grandchildren. In addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars in compensatory damages, your conduct cries out for an additional award of punitive damages."
