In a world exclusive, Brendan Tighe – who’s the former head of security at the Church of Scientology HQ – speaks to New Idea about Tom Cruise’s shocking life. He uncovers the actor’s lavish treatment, his rivalry with John Travolta, his frosty relationships with his loved ones – including exes Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes – and the compelling truth about his children.
Tom’s lavish treatment
To this day, Tom Cruise, 55, still has his own suite on the top floor of the Scientology-owned Osceola Inn, which is dedicated to his own personal taste.
Brendan says: ‘On every other floor at the Osceola, there were seven or eight hotel rooms, but he had the whole floor. It was British colonial style. There were two four-poster beds, all African mahogany, handmade plantation-style shutters eight feet [2.4m] tall. Built-in, custom-made, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, two giant eight foot by 12 foot-wide [3.6m] entertainment systems, and bead-board ceilings.
They’d also put up special satellite dishes for his TV.
The penthouse had triple the amount of cameras than anywhere else, often disguised as smoke alarms.’ The Top Gun actor would stay for months at a time, along with his huge entourage, to complete the Operating Thetan Levels – the highest of Church studies.
‘It was beneath Cruise to have his own hotel card, so we had to make sure that he could go through all these doors and they would open and close perfectly.
There’s hundreds of doors, with magnetic locks and punch codes.
If it took him 30 seconds to go down a hallway, no-one else was allowed to use it, same with any public areas and even the urinals.
‘Cruise is aware of the complaints of human abuses in the Church, perhaps more than any other celebrity there’s ever been in Scientology, just because of the access he’s been granted.
Tom was rarely affectionate to Katie
Brendan claims Katie Holmes, 39, looked like a ‘deer in the headlights’ running around after Tom, but was always generous with staff – unlike her husband.
‘Tom never liked to wait for her or the baby. Scientology was always first, without a doubt.
‘I never saw any level of intimacy, only when they were going to the gym and the 4th of July fireworks display in 2007 – which was also his birthday – and she presented him with a motorbike. They were together or five years while I was at Flag,’ he explains.
Tom with his daughter Suri
‘Suri was mostly kept invisible,’ says Brendan, who only saw her a few times – and even then she was wrapped up tightly to Katie.
‘She definitely stayed in the penthouse, whereas the other adopted kids didn’t even stay in the same building. I never saw him hold the baby while he was there. It was Katie carrying the baby in and out of the hotel room.
People could say “you weren’t there”, but more often than not, I was seeing it on a monitor. I can see virtually everything – there were two cameras on the penthouse floor and rotating cameras on the balcony.’
Tom had no time for his adopted kids
It was his relationship with children Isabella, now 25, and Connor, 23, that stuck with Brendan.
When concentrating on his studies, nothing got in the way. Family had to take a back seat to Scientology during these periods, and the kids would stay in different lodgings.
‘Although he was at the Osceola, he’d rent a few rooms at The Sandcastle for Isabella and Connor. I never saw him with his kids, apart from one time in 2007 when it was his birthday on the 4th of July.’
John Travolta’s rivalry with Tom
According to Brendan, there is a huge Travolta/Cruise rivalry, as they furiously vied for the official number two position under their leader, David.
‘Cruise is the only celeb with a direct line to Miscavige. Travolta didn’t have that. Travolta doesn’t get anything free, no-one is giving him absurd gifts like an airplane hangar, custom-made bikes, or over-the-top favours,’ he reveals.
In 2008, when Tom was awarded the Freedom Medal of Valor – given to Scientology’s most dedicated member – at a special gala in the UK, Brendan says John, 64, exploded with jealousy.
Before Tom, John felt he was the ‘favourite son’ of David.
‘It’s no secret that Cruise and Travolta despised each other.’
For the full story see this weeks issue of New Idea – out now!
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