Dakota Fanning, now 30, revealed during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show a touching yet odd tradition: Tom Cruise has gifted her shoes for every birthday since their time on War of the Worlds. The pair formed a close bond while playing father and daughter in the Steven Spielberg-directed film, and Cruise’s thoughtful gesture has continued for 19 years.
Fanning reminisced about her 11th birthday on set, recalling how Cruise gave her the highly coveted Motorola Razr cellphone. “I wanted a Razr so bad, and I must have been talking about it a lot because that’s what he got me,” she said with a laugh. Since then, Cruise has switched to sending her shoes, a tradition that Fanning cherishes.
While Cruise’s relationship with Fanning seems heartwarming, it starkly contrasts with his estrangement from his own daughter, Suri Cruise. Suri, whose mother is actress Katie Holmes, recently celebrated her 18th birthday without her father. Sources reveal that Cruise has had no part in Suri’s life for years, a rift that appears unbridgeable.
An insider stated that Suri has no contact with her father and wouldn’t answer even if he called. “She feels that she has one parent, and that is her mother,” the source said. Suri’s milestone birthday also marked the end of Cruise’s child support payments to Holmes, a substantial $400,000 a year.
One cannot discuss Tom Cruise without mentioning Scientology, the controversial religion that seems to have played a significant role in his estrangement from Suri. Former Scientologist Samantha Domingo claimed in 2019 that Cruise is “not allowed” to have a relationship with Suri because she is not a Scientologist. The Church, known for its belief in reincarnation, allegedly views Suri as “a spiritual being in his daughter’s body,” rather than Cruise’s daughter.
The Church of Scientology, however, dismissed these claims as “fiction,” leaving the public to speculate about the true nature of Cruise’s relationship with his daughter. Regardless, the last public sighting of Cruise with Suri was in 2012, the year his divorce from Holmes was finalized.
Tom Cruise’s enduring birthday tradition with Dakota Fanning is a curious, endearing, and somewhat bizarre testament to their bond. Yet, it also highlights the complexities and contradictions of his personal life, particularly his estrangement from Suri. As Hollywood continues to navigate the murky waters of fame, relationships, and personal beliefs, stories like these remind us of the human, often perplexing, side of our favorite stars.
So, what do you think of Tom Cruise’s shoe-gifting tradition? Is it a heartwarming gesture or another strange chapter in the actor’s enigmatic life? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more juicy celebrity gossip!
