Tom Cruise, Leah Remini Scientology Clash: Will Actor Jump On Oprah’s Couch Over Church Instead Of Katie Holmes?

Tom Cruise has become the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde among celebrities. There’s the movie star Tom Cruise, who wins the box office in films ranging from Mission: Impossible to Jerry Maguire. And then there’s the Tom Cruise who jumped on Oprah Winfrey’s couch to proclaim his love for Katie Holmes and became the face of the controversial Church of Scientology.

With regard to the Scientology version of Tom, Cruise is irate over a new memoir from actress Leah Remini entitled Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, reported Us Weekly.

The 53-year-old actor is furious about what Leah has been saying on her publicity tour to hype her tell-all, which reveals some nasty little tidbits about Tom. For example, Remini recounts Cruise’s attempt to concoct cookies, which turned into a screaming match as he yelled at his entourage when he couldn’t find the right ingredients. It was particularly eccentric because already-packaged cookie dough awaited him in clear sight, claims Leah.

“He thinks it’s a major betrayal,” a source told Us Weekly.

And it’s not just cookie crumbs that Remini is sprinkling to whet the appetites of readers. The 45-year-old actress also is dishing about what happened when Tom married Katie Holmes, who he has since divorced. According to Leah, Cruise and Katie tattled on her to the Church of Scientology because she allegedly did not behave appropriately during their wedding ceremony.

Consequently, Remini says she was banished to Florida for what she describes as “reprogramming.”

When it comes to Katie, Holmes shared her regrets for their shared Scientology history.

“I regret having upset Leah in the past, and wish her only the best in the future,” said the ex-wife of Tom and mother of their daughter Suri Cruise.

Will Tom follow the lead of Katie? Not likely, according to what the insider told Us Weekly.

“Leah is what the church calls a ‘suppressive person,’ so she’s evil in his mind. [Cruise] wipes the memory of any SP out of his life. He’s letting the Scientology people discredit her.”

As for the Church of Scientology, it has made a point of contradicting Leah both with regard to her tell-all and her interviews.

“Sadly, bitterness and anger are common threads through Ms. Remini’s life. Rather than take responsibility for self-inflicted problems, she is quick to blame others,” said the official statement from the church.

But is it possible that Tom may find a way to fight back against Leah’s accusations? Cruise is hoping to do an interview with someone such as Oprah Winfrey, according to Radar Online.

That’s the same talk show host whose couch Tom chose to announce his adoration for Katie Holmes. And whether or not it’s Oprah who does the interview, a former spokesman for the Church of Scientology, Mike Rinder, who has since left the church, says he feels the actor will participate in an in-depth interview specifically designed to modify the perception left by Leah.

In a new blog, Rinder suggests that if Tom Cruise tackles Leah’s new book, he can prove his claim that he is “the best scientologist there is.”

Cruise has the ability to respond in a way that would focus on Scientology as long as his agent or public relations manager locates a member of the media who would agree to specific queries, according to Rinder.

“It is not unrealistic that CAA or his publicist can find a willing media outlet who would take the ‘Tom Cruise exclusive responding to Leah Remini’ if they agree to ask only certain, scripted questions and contract not to ask about anything else,” says Rinder. “This could even be a very prominent person who conducts the ‘interview’ — a Barbara Walters or an Oprah Winfrey.”

However, Rinder also asserts that it is probable the interview will be pre-scripted and managed.

“If the tough questions are not there (and that doesn’t mean ‘why is scientology controversial’ or ‘what do you think about the negative publicity scientology has been receiving’ bs questions) — know they agreed to be emasculated in order to ‘get the exclusive’ and some ratings,” notes Rinder.

In contrast, he points out various individuals who have spoken out against Scientology while not putting limits on what the media can ask.

“Not once have Leah Remini, Larry Wright, Alex Gibney, Paul Haggis, Marty Rathbun, me or anyone else that scientology tries to trash EVER sought to put ANY limitation on what we could be asked by the media,” added the former church member.

[Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images]