Brooke Shields Says Tom Cruise Apologized For Postpartum Depression Rant

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Brooke Shields, who was once a model and now an actress, has shared that Tom Cruise is able to issue an apology, even if it’s not in public, following instances where he overstepped boundaries. She is discussing the high-profile dispute between her and the well-known actor that took place in 2005, which was fueled by a controversial appearance of Cruise on The TODAY Show. During an interview with Matt Lauer, then the show’s anchor, Cruise criticized Shields for disclosing her use of antidepressants to treat postpartum depression. This led to an infamous rant by Cruise against medication and psychiatry, where he even labeled Shields as “irresponsible.” In response, Shields penned a strong opinion piece on the subject for The New York Times.

Twenty years after the event, Brooke Shields is delving into that time in her recently published memoir, “Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Age: Reflections on Aging as a Woman,” as reported by Entertainment Weekly. As Shields recounts, Tom Cruise’s private apology wasn’t the most heartfelt one, but she acknowledges it was the best he could manage at the time, and she accepted it. However, her thoughts about that incident do not stop there.

Brooke Shields’ Clapback Spawned Vital Discussions About Postpartum Depression

During that period, Cruise was firm in his discussion with Lauer about the risks associated with psychiatric medication, arguing that “there is no concept of a chemical imbalance.” He emphasized that “what I’m suggesting about Brooke is that there’s misunderstanding. She doesn’t grasp the history of psychology.” He took it a step further, criticizing Shields for being reckless by taking antidepressants following the birth of her child.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself turning forty recently, and I wasn’t about to let any misrepresentations go unchallenged. In response, I penned an opinion piece for the Times in 2005, standing up against such mischaracterizations.

Statements similar to those by Tom Cruise undermine the experiences of mothers worldwide. It’s misguided to imply that addressing depression through medication is wrong, and instead promoting vitamins and exercise as solutions reveals a lack of empathy towards postpartum depression and childbirth in general. If there’s any silver lining in Mr. Cruise’s controversial speech, let’s pray it brings more focus on this critical health issue.

Before writing the op-ed, Shields’ former publicist advised her not to respond to Cruise’s remarks as it would be seen as dignifying them. However, Shields felt she wasn’t giving any recognition to what was said; instead, she was defending herself and women subjected to baseless and hazardous comments from an actor who was clearly beyond his depth on the matter. (Note: She no longer collaborates with that publicist.)

Later in their careers, Tom Cruise and another actor had a private conversation about an incident following their collaboration in the movie “Endless Love“. According to her memoir, Cruise eventually apologized to her. However, he did not make a public apology as she believes he should have. Instead, he visited her at home and expressed regret, stating that he felt pressured by Matt Lauer and lashed out at her because he could. While it was far from the perfect apology, she accepted it as that was all he was capable of offering at the time.

In essence, Shields feels that Tom’s position was untenable and his lack of knowledge on the matter sparked women to voice their opinions passionately about their rights and bodies. The fact that a well-known actor was criticizing her journey brought it into the spotlight. Instead of being ridiculed or made to feel ashamed, she was praised. However, for her, the most significant lesson was the self-realization that she is her own strongest advocate.

1. A gentle nudge for ladies across the globe: Remember this!

2. As for you, Tom – whenever you’re ready – extend a sincere apology for those hurtful words, old friend. After all, true power lies in humility, the unsung hero of your Mission Impossible adventures.

You can purchase the memoir titled “Brooke Shields Can’t Age: Ponderings on Women’s Aging” from any book retailer currently.

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2025-01-15 05:34