Katie Holmes appeared on the Today Show yesterday to discuss her role as Carla, a poet with bi-polar disorder in the independent film Touched With Fire. In the film, a love story, Carla explores treatment of her disorder through medication. Why is that significant? Because in 2005, Katie’s then fiancé, Tom Cruise, made some critical remarks about Brooke Shield’s treatment of postpartum depression with anti-depressants. Due to Scientology’s staunch stance on medication and Cruise’s self-professed knowledge of the entire history of psychiatry, this led to a terribly awkward interview with Lauer whom Cruise wrote off as “glib.” Katie was present on the Today Show set in 2005 during the infamous interview. Although Lauer and Cruise have since kissed and made up, Lauer couldn’t help but refer to the discussion when interviewing Katie on this topic:
A decade later, Matt Lauer is still ruminating on his infamous interview with Tom Cruise.
It was 2005, and the two were debating the merits of anti-depressants and other pharmaceutical drugs. As a Scientologist, Cruise is staunchly opposed to that type of medication and, at one point, challenged Lauer, saying, “You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do.”
Now, the actor’s ex-wife, Katie Holmes, is playing a bipolar poet in a new movie, Touched With Fire, and the Today show host couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask her about that impassioned debate.
“[The movie] asks the question, is it beneficial to treat these people with drugs?” Lauer set up.”You and I both remember a heated discussion I got into on that subject here in this studio. How do you think the movie comes down on that?”
Holmes managed to sidestep the potentially uncomfortable moment — and the question.
“What I think our director [Paul Dalio] did a wonderful job with is this movie just kind of shows, this is it,” she said. “These are these two characters in a love story, which he’s saying is kind of its own kind of mania, to fall in love. But he puts the question out there for the audience to make their own decision.”
[From ET]
This video is posted below. Address, acknowledge, deflect back to movie; if I had a scorecard, I would give Katie high marks here. I really think Katie handled this with grace. I suspect she knew it was coming ahead of time with Lauer’s careful wording and her letter-perfect response but good for them. This is a highly unpopular statement but I still harbor residual affection for Cruise from a previous job where I had the pleasure of interacting with him. However, I have never forgiven him for his judgmental remarks on disorders and medication so I am glad this hasn’t gone away. Until he publicly rescinds and apologizes for his comments (and quits Scientology – why not wish big?) I won’t absolve him.
As for the movie, it’s a small indie but it has some of my favorite actors in it – Christine Lahti and Griffin Dunne! I will have to carve out the time to track this one down.
The long haired gentleman is the director Paul Dalio
Photo credit: Wenn Photos and Getty Images,/small>
Nice job Katie. The first part of her answer is a little garbled but in the end she made her point. On a superficial note, she looks great in that red dress.
You know what, I’m not a fan of Katie Holmes by any stretch, but I like reading about here. I sometimes think she, like Nicole Kidman, is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and she’s doing the best she can with her answers and public statements.
For example, that few lines she released abou Leah Remini. I know some people thought it was snide or a half measure, but I think she basically confirmed what Remini was saying about Cruise, without having to give her own dirt.
Makes me really curios about her arrangement with Scientology, and what she would say about them if she could.
Also, she does look great in that red dress!
I agree! Not only is she gorgeous in this dress but her whole self is just lit up all the time now. It’s amazing the toll that Tom and Scientology was taking on her. Glad she’s out of that hot mess and back to her roots. She looks great!
As someone who takes medication for depression, and who would probably be dead or as good as dead without it, I have never forgiven him, either, and I doubt I ever will. His comments were so wrong and cruel, and hit me and probably every person who takes medication for depression in that vulnerable spot that feels “weak” for not being able to get over it alone. I think Katie handled it diplomatically, but I would have admired her more if she had said that she believed medication was one of the necessary tools for overcoming clinical depression. Because it is. Why does the movie “put it out there for the audience to decide?” So people who have no idea what depression feels like can be smug and judgmental about another person’s treatment? As if it’s still a question as to whether or not we “really need it?”
ITA. For years, I refused to see a medical professional because I’d been told all my life that nothing was wrong in my life and I should be able to snap out of it. For years after I got help, I would convince myself I didn’t really need medication; I was strong enough to beat it on my own. When I failed, I berated myself for my weakness and fell into self-loathing. It took years, but I had to accept that there is something unbalanced (I won’t say wrong) with my brain chemistry and medication helps me manage it. If I was diabetic, I would take insulin. I have a mental illness, it’s not weak, it is VITAL for me to take it for this, too.
You are right BendyWindy. There is nothing wrong with you. It’s wonderful that we have medical interventions to help when help is needed.
Katie is still a tool. Who keeps giving her work?
All of this ^^^^
I feel for you GNAT.
My greatest hope is that Tom Cruise completely denounces that scam religion and admits he didn’t have the faintest idea about the subject of psychiatry. Or, alternatively, I’ll settle for Carrie Fisher ripping him a new one.
I don’t understand where the bigotry and condescension regarding mental illness and medication comes from; some people take medication for their heart, while others take it for depression. What’s the damn difference? We’re treating a part of our body that is poorly.
If some people really get off on making those who are brave enough to seek treatment feel ashamed or weak for doing the best thing for them – they can go suck a bag of d-cks.
On a lighter note, here is Boggle the Owl explaining how asking for help makes you a badass. http://i.imgur.com/39svQnI.jpg
Oh, I love that Boggle the Owl. Yes yes yes to everything everyone is saying here.
Boggle gives my bad days an extra shot of cute to keep me going <3
Agree with everything you said. I think Katie is very focused on being PC and diplomatic, but this is one of those situations where I don’t think you need to toe the line. These medications and treatments ARE necessary and vital for depression and other mental health disorders. Period. Though I don’t suffer from depression, I can relate to depression-sufferers. I have pretty bad anxiety, and when someone says, “Just relax. Stop worrying so much,” I want to punch them in the face. Relax? Gee, why hadn’t I thought of that? You’re smarter than my doctor!! Seriously though, it’s so frustrating.
yes, but she’s just an actor playing a part. she’s saying she doesn’t have much real life experience on this issue, while the director does, so her PC stance is probably the best one to have. if you don’t have first hand experience with a topic, you should leave important opinions to people who have the tools to handle it.
people give way too much credit to actors, they’re just the face of words and ideas written and directed by someone else. writers and directors should be answering these questions.
I agree she’s trying to be diplomatic, but the impression I have of her lately is that she doesn’t want to say anything that will get the media riled up about her and Tom again. I think she is enjoying the peace of being away from him, and doesn’t want to rehash that all in the tabloids.
And i agree with Ell, it would be nice if they brought the director or writer out to discuss the issues the film tackles as well.
@tegteg Yes ma’am don’t you know “it’s all in your head!” Why that’s what everyone told me when I a panic attack so severe I blacked out. Of course there was the all knowing guy who said “well some people just can’t handle life”. Later that year I almost repeated that when he had an appendix issue and had to be carted off in an ambulance. Trust me NO ONE understands until they go through it. And just because I can now handle the anxiety with exercise (yoga), meditation, and supplements does not mean I could have gotten to this point without the meds. I think that just because she may not be eloquent enough to discuss this issue on a higher level I do appreciate any efforts any one takes to get the message out there that strong, intelligent, capable people can have issues with mental health and taking medication as needed to handle or get though these issues is no different than taking a pain pill for a toothache or insulin for diabetes. Good for her for addressing the tabu of it all.
ITA. I don’t understand why her statement is being presented so positively. It’s inarticulate and relies on one of those cutesy Hollywood conceits: falling in love is like mania! Yes, in the sense they can both result in temporary elation, and pain when they’re over. So can many things. Mania is seriously scary and can have longterm health and legal consequences, especially if its victim has already suffered other effects of mental illness like addiction and homelessness. The comparison is annoyingly pat and, ironically, glib.
Maybe the movie itself presents a more mature view, but I think this is just more evidence Hollywood’s view of mental illness needs to grow up.
It’s not a “cutesy Hollywood conceit” and she’s not being glib. Because it’s not up to an actor playing a part to dole out advice on how best to treat mental illness. It’s a story that encourages people to investigate the best choices in treating their illness. I have friends who have to take anti-depressants or they’d jump off the nearest cliff. I also have friends who suffer from anxiety disorders and panic attacks, and they’ve learned to deal with it holistically. Actors have a tremendous influence over people and the last thing they should be doing (a la Tom Cruise) is take a firm stance on whether or not people should medicate for mental disorders or what they should do to control them – you’ll end up with a lot of impressionable people thinking “Yes! Tom is right! I’ll just go off my meds and go to Narconon and take massive doses of vitamins and sit in a million degree sauna for hours on end and KNOW that L. Ron Hubbard was right and I’m going to get well!” But we all know it’s a front for Scientology and that numerous people have died as a result of believing Narconon, going off their meds cold turkey, ingesting harmful amounts of supplements and putting their hearts at risk by boiling themselves.
@jaded Honestly wouldn’t be sure you were replying to me except you quoted me. I said nothing about medication, or any kind of treatment of mental illness, and I didn’t suggest KH should have, either. I only commented on the idiotic metaphor she said was central to her movie.
Ok but why can’t the takeaway be that different treatments work differently for different people and it’s up to the individual to decide what’s best for him/herself?
Because my ex-BF went to Narcanon and has been clean for more than ten years. He is NOT a Scientologist-he’s an atheist. His family chose that facility for him and they are not Scientologists either, they’re a bunch of Catholics.
All this stuff is super-personal and I don’t think it’s anybody’s place (certainly not Tom f*cking Cruise) to say what is right or wrong in terms of treating an illness. I also don’t think judging someone for taking a holistic approach is any more virtuous than judging someone for using medication.
“Ok but why can’t the takeaway be that different treatments work differently for different people and it’s up to the individual to decide what’s best for him/herself?”
@Kitten, I wish we could get there. Doctors prescribed me medication that wrecked my personality, increased my pain substantially, and made me suicidal. I finally looked up the side effects of the drugs (on Wikipedia of all places), and saw that my worst problems were all listed as side effects of the drugs I’d been prescribed. The doctors had told me the only side effects were tiredness and constipation, which they also underplayed; being constantly tired and having poor digestion every day for years is probably a circle of hell. I had a horrible year or so of withdrawal, but now that I’m off the drugs, my pain is no longer unbearable, I’m no longer suicidal, and I get to be myself again (digestion and all). But when I tried to talk about my experiences in the disability community, I was shouted down, because how dare I say that drugs could be anything other than completely beneficial.
The drugs we have aren’t the answer for everyone, and this applies to both mental and physical problems. There is no magic bullet. They’re great when they work, but everyone is not the same, and we need to be able to discuss problems we’ve had with them.
@ Emily C.-That sounds like a straight-up nightmare. I’m glad you were able to wean yourself off without any lasting repercussions.
What did the doctors say when you told them about how awful you felt? Did they just brush it off and deny that it was related to the prescription you were taking?
Yes. While doctors certainly misdiagnose, overtreat. over prescribe etc etc– this certainly cannot detract from the fact that there can be legitimate chemical deficiencies in teh brain and that these need to be addresses just like any other chemical issue elsewhere in the body. We have no wa to tap the brain and measure values but in a way that is good– it keeps drs with their textbook thinking and “acceptable ranges” nonsense at bay here.
I literally physically cannot make do on my own and rely on an SNRI to make me “who I used to be”– I have been without it for a good 20 years but I am also glad I found it, life is much better now. Do I wish I could be without it and be “healthy” on my own ? Yes. But I am smart enough to realize it jsut wont happen and I have to treat my inability to supply enough on my own, physically. Thats just how it is, and thats ok cos the benefits are enormous.
Tom Cruise was out of line, and should forever be called out on it. He knows nothing about post pardum or depression and should STFU.
That being said I think Katie handled this perfectly, one she is an actor who has no first hand knowledge of these issues either-which she admits. If she had said to much the story would have gone from being about the movie to Katie trash Tom and she knows that. Also I think she is trying to ensure she is respecting the directors vision and not putting her opinion on it. The director who has bipolar has a view and is apparently expressing it.
I will be honest I appreciate that she doesn’t give an opinion or state some sort of knowledge she doesn’t have. She is an actress not a phycologist, we shouldn’t get mental health opinions from celebrities.
Yes clinical depression should be helped with medication I believe this because DOCTORS say so, but I can appreciate that as an actress with little knowledge Katie doesn’t give opinions.
F*** Tom Cruise, Effexor and therapy saved my life.
Thank you @GNAT – My daughter has bipolar and would probably be dead without her medication (she attempted suicide before she was properly diagnosed). I thank God every day for her present psychiatrist who finally diagnosed what was wrong with her and found her the right combination of meds.
She is finally able to live life again.
I don’t take it that way. I’m guessing the movie provides such an obvious answer without forcing it, that there is no question – not a mystery or challenging dilemma. Just showing with and without and the audience comes to the only intelligent conclusion there is.
Yes, there still are people out there who don’t understand mental illness and really beleive some people just don’t want to be happy or don’t know how to be happy. They do not understand that depression is different than simply being sad or sad about something in particular. Same for bi-polar and schizophrenia. I don’t think most people understand anything about mental illness unless they’ve experienced or seen it with someone close enough to them to understand the depth of it.
Could be, Jennifer. I haven’t seen the movie and was just going by her description.
@GNAT Completely agree. I have never understood Tom Cruise’s appeal but ever since his ridiculous diatribe on the Today show, I can’t stand the guy and I will never see one of his stupid movies. I think his ignorance and the use of a public forum to denounce psychiatry is so harmful to anyone suffering from depression, bi-polar or anything else. It adds to the stigma and the misunderstanding of such illnesses. And from my experience, many people simply don’t get depression. They think you can will yourself out of it or use exercise or positive thinking to “snap out of it.” It’s simply not true. And it’s so exhausting trying to explain your depression to family members or friends when you’re in the middle of it.
BTW – I don’t blame Katie for her response. I’m guessing she has to be very careful what she says because she still has to deal with that wacko Cruise and his many lawyers on stuff dealing with Suri. I’m sure she wants to keep things calm between her and Cruise for the sake of her daughter.
just once I wish one of his ex-wives would have the balls for a tell all. Even if Tom sued for everything, she’d still have plenty from the book sales. 😉
Tom Cruise is a douchebag!
I wish she gets a really big movie break one day.
she did. “married tom cruise” for 5 years.
TC made her walk away from what have been better career choices for her. I don’t think she’s a particularly gifted actress, but she’s serviceable. As long as she’s happy. And banging Foxx.
TC is despicable. TC is down with slavery, and all of the worst human rights violations carried out by CO$. He gets no passes. None.
She looks fantastic. She’s what 36-37? If you told me she’s actually 21 I would believe you.
She looks happy and healthy and though she’s not the best actress out there, I do hope she finds success again. She’s going about it the right way by doing these small indies.
I’m in the club. Who knows if I’d be dead by now without pharmaceutical drugs? I can’t get with ancient history like Tommy Boy’s “glib” moment and Matt Lauer’s obsession with it. $cientology was founded by a “glib” madman. Katie Holmes isn’t artful. She sounds like a dumbbell with her “kind ofs” and “leaving it for the audience” response. It’s 2016. Dreadfully retro-sounding movie. Listen, Hecate, this is a tough room. Had “the pleasure” of meeting Tom Cruise? Oh, dear. Deary me. Ladee dah.
That “niceness” with Cruise that people constantly cite and use to deflect/defend him, just makes him creepier to me. (I’m not saying Hecate is defending him. I was thinking mainly of Cruise’s co-stars and people who go “yeaaaaah, Scientol– BUT he was super nice and professional during my casual or professional, and limited interaction with him.) It only works if you think Cruise is an ignorant innocent, but overall well-intentioned and harmless. He is not. If you know anything about CO$ you know it, and the money and PR Cruise supplies, can’t be called harmless. He knows slave labor renovates his mansions, details his car, etc., He knows what happened to Nazanin Boniad. So he also knew he was auditioning wives. I’ve heard of a lot of “charming” people who turn out to be manipulative, or self-obsessed, abusive, dead-eyed, narcissistic, and what have you–But at least start off giving the impression of “niceness”. There is no there there, and T.C.’s not a nice, good person. The “glib” guy, the guy who went after Brooke Shields, the guy laughing about suppressives in that video, that’s closer to who Cruise actually is for me. And it’s probably just the tip of the iceberg.
Well stated. Hear, hear !
Most narcissists are charming. it’s a character trait.
I agree – the niceness is all a facade. I feel like he’s very conscious of presenting the right “movie star” image, and being super nice to fans and people he interacts with briefly is part of that. It’s sort of an empty shell, until you get down to the nasty side, which knows about and is OK with all the horrible things CO$ has done. And continues to do.
i like her, she’s very private nowadays and she handled all of this very well.
i do sometimes wonder what happened back in the day with cruise, why she got caught up in that relationship. so odd.
as for cruise, he can be a nice person and have ignorant ideas, people aren’t black and white.
She seems like a decent person, but I absolutely do not understand how she has a career in the movies. She’s below mediocre as an actor in my opinion. I cringe when I see her in anything, tv or film, and yet she seems to have endless opportunities. It would be nice to be able to cheer her on in something other than acting (or designing).
i wouldn’t say she has endless opportunities, she does indies at best. i mean it’s not like she’s making massive blockbusters.
There are bunches of mediocre actors, and quite a few of them are acting in big action or comedy movies.
Give her a break. I didn’t think she would get her career back after Cruise, but she is doing ok for her.
I liked Katie and her response.
I’ve been prescribed some form of psychiatric meds since I was 14. And 30 years on I can still (*choose*) at times to be hit or miss in taking them. That’s for various *reasons* at any given time. Sometimes it merely amounts to a bloody minded desire to see where I can reach unassisted. Other times it’s side-effects are too horrid. Often a work situation or location make it easier to temporarily suspend taking.
On or off, each day has its choices, difficulties, some blessings, lots of consequences.
To dismiss such medications out of hand fails to appreciate the support and assistance, some remedy and relief, they can offer. It also singularly fails to understand and credit the strengths made in choices (to medicate or not) at any given time in the long striving for times of best wellness that accompany a mental health disorder.
I am currently starting a course injectable, to ensure compliance for now as I know that’s best for my dodgy wiring and me right now. Maybe not down the line, maybe forever more… as a sometime medication resistant, I’d never dismiss it as a valid course. It’s very existence saves lives.
Medication is vital to treating moderate to severe forms of mental illness. I say that as someone who has “fought” depression and anxiety for YEARS, both medicated and unmedicated. I’ve been unmedicated for a really long time, with no therapy. I can tell the difference. Everyday feels like a pointless, uphill battle, whereas it didn’t when I was taking medication.
The stumbling block for me is shame. Deep, deep, deep shame and self-loathing. And money. Psychiatric services/med management are crazy expensive in my area, even with my great insurance (and I make too much to qualify for the low cost services). So, here I sit.
I am really sorry you’re going through this. Our health system is disgraceful. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Sending good thoughts your way.
Oh, please, yes yes no, don’t feel ashamed. Would you be ashamed if you had diabetes or cancer? You didn’t cause this, and you don’t have it because you’re weak or lazy or whatever you’re thinking. The shame is part of the disease. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this, and I don’t have an answer for the money part, but if you can work that out, please don’t let your shame stop you from getting help. So many people have the same struggles, and you wouldn’t be so hard on them, would you? So don’t be so cruel to yourself. Sending you love and good wishes…
GNAT, that was such a great reply.. thanks!
Yes Yes No. I hear u and can relate 100% to what u say. I’m in the same boat. My family makes too much to qualify for any assistance and with insurance doc visits are so expensive. The drugs I take for anxiety thankfully are cheap bc of generics. With that said don’t ever give up or feel shame! As others have said it is no different than having any other medical ailment. I wish the US would recognize this and insurance companies would not differ mental vs. medical.
Can you get your vitamin D level checked? All 3 of my kids have anxiety/depression issues (it runs up & down both sides of our family, hubby and myself are no exception)- one of my kids’ symptoms were not sufficiently resolved on a big dose of an SSRI. His levels were checked and down to 22ng/ml. A minimum should be 30ng/ml, and his psychiatrist says they like to keep people over 35ng/ml, but concedes that they haven’t determined what optimal levels/ doses should be- everyone’s physiology is not the same. He added 4000IU vitamin D3 in daily (divided) dose, and his mood has brightened considerably. We are of Scandinavian ancestry, and live in the northern tier of the US, so winter really hits hard.
Please, never feel ashamed. Your inertia is your depression- please talk to someone about a blood test. Sending positive thoughts your way. Please don’t wait. Here are a couple links:
http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/articles-1/2015/11/13/vitamin-d-and-depression
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25989997
Thanks for sharing. I am wondering if the childrens’ psychiatrist has recommended anything other than meds? Were they diagnosed when they were very young children or as adolescents? I apologize in advance if my questions feel inappropriate. Thanks much.
No worries. Our oldest (who was four) one day walked past our room in the hall, and saw a can of powder formula. She immediately panicked and demanded to know if she had put her hands into it, so were her brothers going to get sick (one of them had just been hospitalized briefly after Rotavirus) ? Shouting and crying about it -I said, “honey, look at your hands- they are clean- there is not formula on them. you aren’t even in the room”- she screamed through tears “just tell me!” -it was horrible, she didn’t believe her own eyes and was sure she was going to be responsible for them being hospitalized, and my tactic only caused escalation of her panic. I did all I could not to cry for her at that moment- it still brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. I called the pediatrician and talked with them about what happened and got a referral for counseling. Started off with CBT (cognitive – behavioral therapy) including ERP (exposure response prevention therapy) – contamination fears, and panic, labelled at that time as OCD (her dad has ocd, and recently a cousin on dad’s side who is her age has been diagnosed as well- this is biological). She also had severe separation anxiety. We were referred to a child psychiatrist who assessed and discussed meds, which we decided to try to alleviate her suffering. She was by then five. Maybe it was controversial, and I do realize that meds may be handed out a little to readily, and maybe without proper care and due diligence, but it was the right thing to do for her. I am a firm believer in early intervention for best outcome and often wonder how my life would have been different had I the same resources offered to me. Maybe I wouldn’t have contemplated suicide as a teen.
She is a now high school senior, a very high achiever (IB diploma candidate, Merit Scholar Commended) who still uses medication (SSRI and buspirone) and is back on with ERP & CB therapies. I also have her on 4000 IU vit D/day.
Both boys began with bedtime panic attacks in third grade (twins)- there had always been some mild anxiety with them from toddlerhood, but the desperation and crying that would happen at bedtime was heart-breaking… each would say he felt like he would die if he went to sleep. So we would lay with them, trying to comfort them until they fell asleep, sometimes the waking and panicking and comforting cycles would go on until 11:30 or 12:00 am. I did not let this go on for long before seeking help, and that was seven years ago. Also the right choice for us. YMMV.
The one son with more serious depression refuses CBT, but takes meds & the extra vitamin D. We also use a full spectrum 10,000 lux SAD lamp every school morning at breakfast from later fall to spring. I do find it helps to some degree, but the addition of a large daily dose of D over the course of about two months has been more effective, in conjunction with SSRI and buspirone.
My other son does well on just a moderate SSRI dose- I think he has less anxiety over all and cognitively manages those issues better in general. Some days I worry that he holds it in because he doesn’t want to rock the boat, and I talk to him about that very frequently. He also takes daily extra D.
I hope this has been helpful to you and anyone else who may read. I am willing to be very open with friends, family and stranger alike about the subject because there should not be shame or stigma, and discussion breeds help, new ideas and acceptance. No one should suffer in silence.
AntiSocialButterfly:
Thanks so much for sharing the additional information.
Yes yes no:
If you have a long standing issue, these suggestions may or not be helpful, but just thought I would mention them as you currently have your ‘back up against a wall’ due to costs:
Walking/Running-exercise is reported to increase the body’s seritonin level. From what I have read, this is more of a recommendation for mild depression. On a personal note, after the death of my mother, loss of two pets and other catastrophes that all occurred in a short period of time, I diagnosed myself with depression. Because I don’t like taking any drugs-everything gets processed thru one’s liver-, I started in on a walking program to combat the depression. I admit that I needed to do quite a bit of walking until, I felt my mood lift. It did happen-eventually. Although I felt better able to function during the day, it didn’t help the difficulties I had with sleep.
Tai Chi-I recently read that Tai Chi is helpful with depression. This is something that I am planning on looking into.
Free Meds from Pharma companies-many drug companies have medication assistance programs. Most medical offices/pharmacies can help with contact information for these programs.
‘Hope things get better
Amelie: I’m commenting a day late, so not sure if you will see this. I have also been told so many times that walking would help with my depression/anxiety, and I would love to be able to try it, but I literally cannot get out of bed most days. Do you have any advice on how to jump start it? I wish I could just get up and do it, but I can’t. : (
Was that interview from 10 years ago the only good one Matt Lauer has ever done?
I’m not sure why he’d expect Katie to reference Tom directly.
Yeah I think it was a cheap shot from Lauer to ask her that. She handled it well.
Glib, Matt. Very glib.
Probably a prepared response, she was either told it was coming or her handlers correctly predicted it. Preparation = professionalism, so no shade from me. But I gotta say it: Why should she have to respond about something her ex stupidly said that didn’t involve her?
And she looks fabulous. Good for her.
Katie Holmes is the smartest chick in Hollywood, she got away from Tom and she got to keep the baby NO questions asked.. Oh what she must know!
Her dad was the smartest. I don’t think she was that smart — she married him in the first place.
+1
She was along for the ride. I’d love to know what made her change her mind?
The cult’s treatment of children? The way Nicole’s kids talked about their mom? We will never know, but it was bad enough.
I do not know how can there eve people who defend this cult.
I can’t stand Matt Lauer.
Bleck, me neither.
Lauer’s and Cruise’s teeth and noses facing eachother like that is funny – like two birds…!
Is that a WEDDING BAND on her left ring finger???????
I admire her and will have a soft spot for her forever. She did what many could not find in themselves to do and I’m not even talking about COS necessarily, but even just abusive relationships. She got out and made her own way. I love her for it.
True! And she did what a much more powerful actress (Nicole Kidman) could not, which was to extricate herself and her child – while being totally in the driver’s seat! I think she’s such a naive and strange person for getting mixed up with him in the first place, but she’s amazing for that alone.
She looks healthy and beautiful so glad!! When she first divorced Cruise she looked so shell shocked like she just survived wwII. I forgot how stunning she is.
There is a lot that is still misunderstood about mental health issues…there are multiple factors (biology, psychology and social issues) that need to be addressed in treatment. IMO, some issues have a more biological basis, i.e.s bipolar, schizophrenia. Other issues for example-a single depressive episode after a major life event (for example death of a significant other) may or may not require meds. My bone of contention is that the use of anti depressants has gone up 400% per CDC #s and it seems that a lot of the prescribing is being done by general practioners to middle aged women. There are a lot of tough times that are part of life and I am wondering why the answer is always a “Pill”?
I’m sure that some doctors over prescribe, but also consider that people are getting more honest and open to talking about mental illness. Some of the stigma is lifting compared to years ago. Also, some medications are used for off label purposes. As a middle aged woman, I can tell you that I grew up being told to stop feeling sorry for myself and that I needed to stop being so sensitive, have a better relationship with God, etc, etc. I didn’t work up the courage to get help until I was almost 30 and I can tell you that I am still trying to find a way to move forward from the mistakes of my past. My parents don’t get that depression is real. I believe some of that is generational so imagine how long many of these women have been suffering because their opinion of mental health issues was influenced by their parents. I’m not concerned about the use of anti-depressants going up drastically. I’m glad it is. By that age, someone knows if they are feeling better on medication or not.
AngelaH:
Thanks for sharing…just to clarify my post, I mentioned the CDC stats, because IMO there persists in healthcare a misogynist bent by (the majority) male physicians in the U.S.
One historical example has been the high number of hysterectomies done in the U.S. versus other countries. Even with breast cancer-a overwhelmingly female disease-radical mastectomies were done here in contrast to less invasive lumpectomies in other western countries like Great Britain. Dr. Susan Love, a well-known breast surgeon and a woman has advocated for women on the treatment of breast cancer over the years, telling women not to rush into radical surgery. The U.S, has finally ‘caught up’ with other countries on treatment of both of these diseases. But, I remain mindful of why so many physicians are prescribing antidepressants to women in high numbers.
Amelie,
Thank you so much for your response! I see your comment in a very different light when you stated it that way. I’m not saying there was a problem with the way you stated it the first time, I just only looked at it from my point of view and I freely admit this is a topic that I am very connected too and it gets emotional for me.
I do understand the medical community does tend to disregard women’s symptoms and I can see doctors just going for the easy depression diagnosis without trying to find out what is really going on. Like my endocronologist saying the pressure I feel in my throat is just acid reflux and couldn’t possibly be because I have an enlarged thyroid but saying that we better get an ultrasound just in case. An ultrasound of what? It can’t be my thyroid right so why are we doing an ultrasound on that? Even though we know my thyroid is enlarged. There are multiple ultrasounds showing that and I had a biopsy done.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and clarify!
I’ve always felt a little pity for her. Even after divorcing him she’ll be linked to Tom Cruise forever. Nicole Kidman must be thankful. Thanks to Katie, people forgot about her relationship with that wacko.
I never forgave Tommy for saying he knows everything about postpartum depression. Until you grow a vagina and pop a kid out i don’t want to hear it from him. On the other hand, I’m glad Katie woke up. She was dead inside for so many years in that marriage.
She was on Jimmy Fallon last night and playing musical beers. The fembot definitely died when she divorced Tommy.
I could put up a long list of well-known people with depression who either didn’t have access to antidepressants or didn’t use them for some reason. But I’m not sure how Scientologists feel about suicide.
I’ll always like Katie Holmes for her escape. Plus she just seems like a nice person and serious about her job, even though I’m not totally impressed by her career trajectory. You can blame TC for some of that too. She did a good mainstream step-in with Batman and she was honestly good as Rachel. (She was good also in Thank you for smoking.) Then, I think, TC took control and started dictating this and that.
Thank you to all of you who shared ehat you go through on a daily basis. Not only you help vreak the stigma, you show how strong you all are.
A great post at CB!
This interview is everything I hate about these creepy morning TV shows – Lauer calls himself a ‘journalist,’ and yet he’s sneakily asking her about an incident that happened 10+ years ago with an ex husband she has no connection to anymore.