A new documentary, aired at the Sundance Film Festival, claims the Church of Scientology forced Tom Cruise to divorce Nicole Kidman.
In the controversial Going Clear, the finger is pointed squarely at the mysterious organisation, with claims that they employed aggressive tactics to drive a wedge between the Hollywood couple.
According to the Daily Mail, the film is based on a book by journalist Lawrence Wright – an exposé on the religion filled with allegations of tax evasion and the abuse of its followers.
The documentary film records Marty Rathburn, formerly Scientology’s second-highest ranking official, claiming that he was appointed to “facilitate the breakup”. According to Rathburn, David Miscavige – the head of the church – was suspicious of Kidman, who was listed as a “Potential Trouble Source” because her father was a psychologist.
Going Clear, created by Alex Gibney, also alleges that Kidman convinced Cruise to distance himself from Scientology between 1992 and 2001. Rathburn claims that during the filming of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, Miscavige, who was the best man at Cruise’s wedding, was having a hard time getting through to the actor. At this point, says Rathburn, an aggressive campaign was launched to remove Kidman from Cruise’s life.
Kidman’s phone was allegedly wiretapped, while Cruise was psychoanalysed. Any personal information was forwarded to Miscavige, who condemned the “Mission Impossible” star for his “sexual fetishes”.
Rathburn further claims that Cruise’s adopted children, Connor and Isabella, were “re-educated” in a bid to turn them against their mother and strengthen Cruise’s custody case.
Before Going Clear premiered at Sundance, HBO hired 160 lawyers to have a look at the film. It is expected to air on the channel in March this year.