Tom Cruise

OK, so this is completely unrelated to photography, but I had to vent it somewhere. What is with this big Tom Cruise backlash? Are people actually avoiding his movies because of his Scientology beliefs and comments on medication use? I think he's crazy just as much as the next guy, because he's over-quoted and over-exposed and hating him seems to be in style, but is that really a reason to avoid someone's films? I understand if you're not a fan of his acting, or you don't particularly enjoy the types of movies he makes, but why would anyone boycott someone because of their private life? Who cares? Do I think he was out of line to comment on Brooke Shields' post-partem depression? Of course. Obviously he seems misinformed and should mind his own business, but I'm still not clear on how that effects his acting ability. Nevermind that his costars and directors seem to speak highly of him, it shouldn't be that important to the American public what a celebrity thinks. They're not running for some decision-making public office. They're just people who are over-paid because that's become acceptable in our culture. And more to the point, as a gay man I can relate to being shunned because of what I believe. Maybe he's really gay too, as many seem to believe, maybe he's not. Maybe he's homophobic, maybe he's not. Maybe his marriage is a publicity stunt, maybe he's actually in love. I just think it's sad that people worry about his point of view as though it directly effects their lives. Just pay for your groceries and leave the Inquirer on the rack. There are more pressing issues in the world today than Tom Cruise.