Katie Holmes might’ve predicted her relationship with Tom Cruise sooner than expected.
When Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got engaged, it was the culmination of a very public courtship. The couple made headlines with their very public displays of affection and Cruise’s remarks in interviews.
Such a public courtship would naturally have a very public proposal. Cruise popped the question in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Although the proposal took place in the most romantic city in the world, the marriage wouldn’t last. Rumors still persist regarding the former couple years after their divorce.
Cruise and Holmes had a very public courtship, which happened to take place during promotion for Cruise’s film War of the Worlds. Cruise was making headlines for his behavior, including sparring with Matt Lauer on Today and jumping on Oprah’s couch.
It all culminated in a very public proposal in June 2005. Cruise was in Paris and announced their engagement at a press conference promoting the film.
“Yes, I proposed to her. … It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven’t slept at all,” Cruise said. “Today is a magnificent day for me, I’m engaged to a magnificent woman.”
The couple reportedly shared a candlelit dinner at Le Jules Verne restaurant at the Eiffel Tower at 12:30 a.m., which was followed by the proposal. Proposing in one of the most romantic cities in the world wasn’t a coincidence.
When asked why he proposed at the Eiffel Tower, Cruise said, “I’ve never been to the Eiffel Tower. It’s Paris, it’s a beautiful city, it’s very romantic.”
Reporters told Cruise that he seemed like a changed man. He replied, “It’s definitely love and France. I’ve never felt like this before. She’s an extraordinary woman and I love her very much. My family is doing well and I’m just very happy. Then you come to Paris … But it’s definitely Katie.”
Cruise even poked fun at the media headlines surrounding his previous Oprah appearance.
“I’ll be jumping on couches for a very long time,” he said.
The Church Of Scientology May Have Been Involved In Tom And Katie Getting Together
Cruise had a dating history that was well known in Hollywood. The actor married and divorced Nicole Kidman. He also dated and subsequently split from actress Penélope Cruz. During this period, Cruise was rumored to be in talks with the Church of Scientology regarding his search for a wife.
Several famous actresses were rumored to have been considered for the lofty role. Among them were Sofía Vergara and Scarlett Johansson, who Cruise was reportedly courting at the time.
However, the church seemed to get the answers to their prayers when they came across an article in Seventeen.
In a 2004 interview, Holmes said, “I used to think that I was going to marry Tom Cruise.” At the time, she was engaged to actor Chris Klein.
It was a mere six months after that article came out that Klein and Holmes announced their split. Just one month after than announcement, Holmes and Cruise made their red carpet debut as a couple in Rome.
Many find the timing of the former couple’s courtship to be highly suspicious.
Katie Holmes’ Divorce Filing Blindsided Tom Cruise
When Holmes filed for divorce in the summer of 2012, Cruise himself admitted he “didn’t expect” it. While the move was surprising for Cruise, the legal proceedings ran very smoothly. The two even reached a settlement within 11 days.
Cruise and Holmes haven’t spoken much about their marriage or the reason for their split. However, it is widely rumored that Holmes wanted out in order to protect their daughter Suri from the Church of Scientology.
This rumor was even supported by Leah Remini, who has been very public about her exit from the church.
“Scientology considers Katie a suppressive person which is an enemy,” Remini told The New York Post. “I knew Katie when she was in [Scientology] and she seemed very indoctrinated into Tom’s world, but as time went on, I understood why she did what she did to protect her daughter.”
Cruise himself even confirmed the rumor during his deposition against Bauer Media. The outlet previously claimed Cruise abandoned Suri. Cruise was asked if Holmes left “in part to protect Suri from Scientology.” Cruise responded by saying, “there is no need to protect my daughter from my religion.” However, when asked again if Holmes mentioned she was leaving to protect Suri from the religion, he said, “Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes.”
Holmes was granted primary custody of Suri and Cruise received visitation. However, it is widely rumored that the actor rarely sees his daughter. Not much is known about Cruise’s post-divorce love life, but Holmes moved on to a relationship with Jamie Foxx. It was rumored that the divorce settlement didn’t allow Holmes to publicly date for five years after their split.
Many attribute this to Holmes and Foxx’s very private attitude toward their relationship. Many have pointed out that they seem much more comfortable publicly once the divorce passed the five-year mark.
