This Tape Will Self-Destruct: Tom Cruise On Scientology

by Nicole

Now you see it, now you don't. A video of an interview with Tom Cruise about his controversial faith, that was intended for Scientologists's eyes only, has been yanked off YouTube more times than a Viacom video clip.

The video was apparently uploaded to YouTube by a "consortium of church critics." After receiving a tip from investigative reporter Mark Ebner, The Huffington Post put the clip up on their site on Sunday at 10 pm. Within half an hour of posting the clip was yanked from the video sharing site. Since then it has surfaced again on several sites, including PerezHilton.com. Hilton posted it on Tuesday morning, and by noon, like a Mission Impossible tape, it had self-destructed again.

When someone puts this much effort into trying to stop you watching something, naturally it makes you want to see it more. Eager surfers should keep their eyes peeled, since who knows where and when it'll surface next (at time of writing Gawker had posted a viewable version). Fortunately for the curious, gossip mag US Weekly were taking notes, and have published a transcription of some of the highlights:

Tom Cruise: ...I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist does... has or she the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. Being a Scientologist, you look at someone and know absolutely that you can help them.


"Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else because you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help.


"That's what drives me... I know that we have an opportunity to really help for the first time, effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated to that. I am absolutely, uncompromisingly dedicated to that.


"We have a responsibility....


"We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, we are the authorities on improving conditions... we can rehabilitate criminals.


"...We can bring peace and unite cultures...


"Traveling the world and meeting the people that I've met, talking with these leaders in various fields, they want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it and that's us. That is our responsibility to do that.


"It is the time now. Now is the time... Being a Scientologist, people are turning to you, so you better know it, you better know it and if you don't, go and learn it, but don't pretend you know it. It's like we're here to help.


"If you're a Scientologist, you see life, you see things the way they are, in all its glory, all of its complexity and the more you know as a Scientologist, you don't become overwhelmed by it.


[very scary, psycho laugh.....and more bizarre rambling]


"Look, I wish the world was a different place. I'd like to go on vacation and go and romp and play and just do that, you know what I mean. That's what I want it to be. There's times I'd like to do that, but I can't because I know, one you know, I have to do something about it.


"I have to do it because I can't live with myself if I don't, and that really is it.


"I'm carrying my load...but I still need to do more."


"So it's our responsibility to educate, create the new reality. We have that responsibility to say, 'Hey, this is the way it should be done because we do it this way and people are actually getting better.'


"And let's get it done. Let's really get it done and have enough love and compassion and toughness that you're really going to do it and do it right.


"I have to tell you something - it is rough and tumble, and it's wild and wooly, and it's a blast, it's a blast, it really is fun because, dammit, there is nothing better than the going out there and fighting the fight and suddenly you see things are better.


"I want to know that I've done everything I could everyday, and I think about those people out there who are depending on us. I think about that and it does make me feel that we've got more work. I need more help, get those spectators either in the playing field or out of the arena. Really, that's how I feel about it.


"I do what I can, and I do it the way I do everything. [laughs] There's nothing part-of-the way for me."

| 01/15/08 | Celebrities