Tom Cruise always dreamed of having a large, close-knit family of his own. While currently unattached, his three high-profile marriages have consistently been in the spotlight. Among these, his marriage to Katie Holmes was one of the most widely-covered celebrity relationships ever.
The public was fascinated by the couple, particularly after the birth of Suri Cruise in 2006. Undoubtedly, the media attention affected their family life. While Cruise reportedly handled it calmly, Holmes did not appreciate the unwanted scrutiny that prevented them from living a normal family life.
Katie Holmes Absolutely Hated the Media Attention Suri Cruise Got as a Child!
Fame is truly a double-edged sword, and having Hollywood A-listers as parents can create a uniquely challenging childhood. When Suri Cruise was born, she became an instant headline, simply for being born. Alongside Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, both babies were the center of the media attention for months.
Despite Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes doing everything possible to shield their daughter from the relentless media glare, they couldn’t escape the invasive tabloids and rumors that inevitably affected their family. In an interview with Glamour, Holmes revealed how she navigated the chaos surrounding her daughter. She said,
Some of the stuff [people said] was such absolutely horrible things to say about a child. It was so uncalled for and so disgusting. Enough is enough.We were changing diapers. He said, “I don’t want you to get upset.” And I said, “Well, I am upset.” So we approached it together.
But I definitely felt like—as a woman, as the mother of Suri—I want to handle this! My mom is very strong, and if anyone ever said anything about any of us, she would be, “Excuse me? That’s my family!”
Tom Cruise, having been in the spotlight for decades, understood that media scrutiny was beyond their control. He approached the matter calmly rather than making rash decisions. On the other hand, despite being a Hollywood star herself, Katie Holmes, as a mother, struggled with the constant chatter surrounding her family.
It was undoubtedly a challenging time for them as a family. Now, with their separation and Suri Cruise turning 18, much time has passed. While they are not frequently seen together as a trio, their family continues to remain the subject of public fascination.
Inside Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s Divorce and Custody Battle
Among all the celebrity divorces in the history of Hollywood, the separation of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes remains one of the most talked about to this day. Once considered one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise shocked fans with news of their split in 2012. They exchanged vows in November 2006 at Odescalchi Castle near Rome, Italy, and during their six-year marriage, they welcomed their daughter, Suri Cruise.
Since the divorce settlement, the Dawson’s Creek star is frequently seen in New York City, where she has full custody of their 18-year-old daughter. Post-divorce, the stars issued a joint statement that said (via Today),
We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri’s best interests. We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other’s commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other’s roles as parents
Holmes was awarded sole custody, with Cruise agreeing to various financial responsibilities. These included monthly payments of $400,000 to his ex-wife until their daughter reached 18, as reported by the Daily Mail. Additionally, the Mission Impossible star committed to covering medical, dental, insurance, education, college, and other extracurricular expenses.
Despite recent rumors suggesting that the father and daughter are not on speaking terms, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim, as both stars keep their personal matters extremely private.
