Paramount Ends Relationship with Tom Cruise

LOS ANGELES, August 23: Paramount Pictures is ending its
14-year relationship with Tom Cruise, with Sumner Redstone, the chairman of Viacom,
saying that the star’s off-screen behavior was “not acceptable” to the studio.

However, according to the New York Times, Cruise’s
representatives insist that Cruise was not fired. They say that with $100
million in financing already lined up, Cruise no longer needs the backing of
the studio.

Cruise’s bizarre antics in the last year have included
jumping up and down on Oprah Winfrey’s couch, declaring his love for Katie
Holmes; and lambasting Brooke Shields for taking prescription drugs to treat
postpartum depression.

“As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong
to renew his deal,” Redstone told The Wall Street Journal. “His recent conduct has not been acceptable to
Paramount.”

Paula Wagner, Cruise’s partner in Cruise-Wagner Productions,
however, told the Times that Cruise wanted to terminate his relationship with Paramount
after securing financial commitments from two hedge funds. “This is something
we’ve dreamt of, to have an independently financed production company, where we
can decide the films that we make, from high-concept to more personal
pictures,” she said. “I think we’re in the forefront of a trend.”

Wagner went on to say of Redstone’s comments: “I have no
answer for a stupid statement.”