Summary
- Tom Cruise allegedly attempted to recruit David and Victoria Beckham into the Church of Scientology by offering to build a dedicated soccer training facility for David.
- The Beckhams ultimately did not join the Church, and it is unclear why they backed out or if they had any affiliation with Scientology.
- There are reports that Tom Cruise is distancing himself from Scientology, with speculation arising in 2021 that he is undergoing a "religious crisis." His children with Nicole Kidman are reportedly still active members of the Church.
Tom Cruise may be quitting the Church of Scientology, but it apparently wasn’t long ago he was trying to recruit two of his famous friends, David and Victoria Beckham, to the controversial religion.
Mike Rinder, a former senior official for the Church, alleged in his book A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology that Tom almost got the Beckhams to become church members.
'Mission Impossible': The Cast Ranked From Richest To Poorest
Led by Tom Cruise's charismatic performance as Ethan Hunt, the Mission Impossible franchise has had some huge stars join on since its inception.
Rinder's primary goal in his book was to reveal the alleged abuses of the Church in addition to how he successfully left Scientology.
Tom Promised David His Own Stadium If He Joined Scientology
David And Victoria Beckham Are Avoiding Questions After Reportedly Cutting Ties With Meghan Markle And Prince Harry
But what’s arguably garnered the most interest from his work is the revelation of a distinct public image strategy employed by the Church’s followers, with the aim of promoting beliefs to acquaintances and eventually persuade them to join their ranks – especially those with wealth and power.
To exemplify this, the author used the instance of when Cruise allegedly attempted to enlist the Beckhams into Scientology’s fold.
Rinder wrote that the Mission: Impossible actor Cruise presented the power couple with an enticing proposition: a pledge to construct a stadium at the institution’s California headquarters, ensuring David Beckham had a dedicated facility for his regular soccer training.
What Are Tom Cruise And Nicole Kidman's Adopted Kids Doing Today?
The media is always reporting on Nicole Kidman's kids, and Tom Cruise's kids, but why do we so rarely hear about the pair's adopted kids?
“A professional-grade soccer pitch was constructed on the property at Gold [HQ in San Jacinto],” Rinder wrote. “The ground was leveled, irrigation installed, perfect turf, goals raised. A full-time caretaker was appointed from the Gold staff.”
“It was built for one purpose only: so Tom Cruise could woo his friend David to come to Gold. It never happened,” he went on.
Rinder never made it clear why the Beckhams backed out of becoming more involved in the Church, nor have they ever commented on their suspected affiliation.
Tom Cruise Is Reportedly Distancing Himself From Scientology
David and Victoria aren’t the only celebrities attempting to distance themselves from Scientology. Tom Cruise has reportedly quit the church amid a religious crisis, though the various reports remain unconfirmed.
In August, it was reported by The Mirror that Tom has spent the majority of the past three years in the UK, filming his latest movies. Nevertheless, he’s been notably absent from the UK Scientology headquarters. Additionally, he hasn’t been seen at the Church of Scientology building in central London in recent years, either.
This is giving credence to the speculation that the actor is deliberately creating distance between him and Scientology, at least in the public eye. Speculation initially arose in 2021 when Tom was reported to be undergoing a "religious crisis."
The adult children, Isabella and Connor, that Tom shares with his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, are reportedly still active members of the Church. Connor Cruise gave a rare social media update earlier this month but declined to comment on the speculation around his dad’s affiliation with Scientology.
As for Tom’s youngest child, daughter Suri with ex-wife Katie Holmes, the actor apparently hasn’t seen the teen in years, though it was recently reported Tom has agreed to pay for Suri’s expenses beyond her 18th birthday, including college tuition.
