A recently published book on the Church of Scientology sheds light on alleged efforts by its leaders to separate Nicole Kidman from Tom Cruise.
The Church of Scientology, known for its controversial nature, is said to have engaged in espionage and wiretapping Nicole Kidman's phone in a bid to disrupt her marriage to Tom Cruise, as revealed by a high-ranking Church official in the book 'A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology.'
The Church leadership reportedly sought to create a rift between the couple due to concerns that Kidman might influence Cruise to distance himself from the controversial religious movement. This apprehension arose when Tom, a prominent figure in the Church, began to ignore calls from David Miscavige, the head of Scientology, while working on the film 'Eyes Wide Shut' alongside Nicole in London in 1997. This revelation comes from Mike Rinder, a former high-ranking Church official, as detailed in the book.
According to the book, Miscavige's suspicions regarding Tom Cruise's second wife stemmed from her apparent disinterest in Scientology, leading him to fear a potential loss of influence over Cruise. It is even alleged that Miscavige ordered the tapping of Nicole's phone to keep tabs on her.
In an attempt to facilitate the separation of the couple and ensure Cruise's unwavering commitment to Scientology, the Church's leader supposedly appointed Marty Rathbun, the second-highest-ranking official, to oversee the breakup. Rathbun was also tasked with auditing Cruise to reinforce his dedication to Scientology. The book claims that Rathbun collaborated with Hollywood lawyer Bert Fields to hire private investigator Anthony Pellicano for the surveillance and phone tapping.
Notably, Anthony Pellicano served over a decade in prison for wiretapping, organized crime involvement, and illegal possession of explosives and grenades.
The book asserts that the Church's alleged tactics were effective in drawing Cruise back into the fold of Scientology, causing a growing divide between him and Kidman and eventually leading to their divorce in 2001. Upon their divorce, David Miscavige was reportedly relieved that Nicole's perceived "negative influence" on Tom was no longer a concern, leading Tom to publicly embrace Scientology more fervently.
It is essential to note that the Church of Scientology has denied accusations of phone tapping and labeled Mike Rinder a "liar."
