Tom Cruise, you sly boots. The net is crawling with reports that the star foiled an anti-Scientology protest at the Valkyrie premiere, held at Jazz At Lincoln Center. Seems Anonymous, the infamous Xenu-haters, didn’t realize that “Jazz At Lincoln Center” wasn’t actually at Lincoln Center, forcing a quick run to the Time Warner Center and a new protest permit. There also isn’t space for a big red carpet outside the TWC, making it harder for the group’s Guy Fawkes masks to sneak into pap snaps of arriving celebrities. Nicely played!
But sadly for Cruise—who came in through the back—the price of avoiding an embarrassing photo op was not getting any good ones. Instead of glamorously parading for fans, stars were quickly walked into the oversized mall, where security far outnumbered gawkers. The few bystanders there were often had no idea what the event was for. A nearby ad for All My Sons (starring Katie Holmes) even had some wondering if Anonymous was protesting a party for the play. And possibly thanks to the lack of a public red carpet, non-cast members in attendance were on the level of Mario Lopez and Richard Belzer. He may have avoided fiasco, but we wouldn’t necessarily call this a point for Cruise.
Check out the gallery to see who else braved the brief jog past the protesters.
[Photos: Splash News Online]
Lori Singer never made a movie with Tom Cruise in the '80s. So why the hell was she there?
[Photo: Splash News Online]
Comments
5 Responses to “Did Tom Cruise Really Elude Anti-Scientology Protesters?”
As someone who was there, let me explain: We were not told where it was until about 9 am Monday morning. Very few members of the press were told where it was until the very last minute to foil protestors. Our press contact told us as soon as he knew, so we had to scramble for a permit at 10 am. ORIGINALLY it was at Lincoln Center proper. We showed up at the right place and the right time despite their attempts, and Cruise had to go in the back door like he did at the All My Sons premiere (his handlers don’t like him seeing us).
When did Katie Holmes get so ugly!?!?!? Oh ya, when she cut her hair like a dude!
Yes, as another who was there, it should be noted that he did everything to try to avoid our criticism – not announcing the actual location to media till that morning(we have contacts with media), holding it in a venue that was more secure with restricted elevators to get up to the location, not even holding it in a real movie theater but a Jazz Center theater at the Time Warner Cennter, trying to avoid us at the front door by hiding and running in the back through a garage entrance.
And despite everything he did, we were still there, getting out the message. Not only there but with a documentary film crew in tow. He killed his own premiere presence, not mingling with fans or getting any outside shots because of us. He lost pics from photogs who were at the front door. People who passed by once they saw us were more inteterested in us than in sticking around trying to see him. They didn’t care at all. Employees in the building didn’t even know it was going on.
Can you imagine any other premiere where they withold where it will be in order to avoid protest?
What all this demonstrates is that Anonymous is at cause(winning) . He is in complete retreat from us. Consider that, and his original video that started this whole campaign, in which he said he would have no trouble confronting an “SP” -suppresive person(i.e. someone critical of Scientology).
Where was his confront of peaceful protesters? Where are his vaunted OT powers? And if he doesn’t have these powers after all he has spent in Scientology, then what is Scientology worth?
I’ll let him ponder that question. He apparently wasn’t able to answer that question when asked by media.
Actually, I thought he was mocking TC’s ~^+~@!@(#_%%+@_@* size and Katie was laughingly agreeing.
Actually, I thought he was mocking TC’s peen size and Katie was laughingly agreeing. (Comment regarding pic of Katie with Branagh)