Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting divorced after five years of marriage. Katie initiated the split, filing divorce papers on Thursday (June 28th) in New York City in which she cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason she wants to end the marriage.
An attorney for Holmes released a statement saying, “This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family. Katie’s primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter’s best interest.”
Cruise was on location in Iceland shooting a movie called Oblivion and was reportedly “blindsided” by Katie’s filing. His publicist reacted in a statement that read, “Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy to work this out.”
He later added, “I would hope that it’s not a contentious matter. I know Tom is not a particularly contentious person.”
Katie, 33, is seeking “primary residential custody” of the couple’s six-year-old daughter, Suri. Cruise, 49, has two children from his previous marriage to Nicole Kidman.
- Katie and Tom stepped out together out of the blue in 2005 and infamously gushed about each other to the media during their whirlwind courtship. Katie quickly became pregnant with their daughter Suri, and they tied the knot shortly after she was born.
SCIENTOLOGY BEHIND THE SPLIT?
TMZ.com reported that Tom’s ties to Scientology was the major reason that Katie filed for divorce. Sources say that the actress was fearful that Tom would “drag” their daughter Suri deeper into the church, as she’s now at an age where it could become a significant part of her life.
Insiders also say that religion was the motivation for Katie to seek full custody, as she doesn’t want Tom to control decisions regarding Suri’s involvement with the church.
Although there have been rumors of trouble in the couple’s relationship ever since they got together — they were seen holding hands in Iceland two weeks ago. Katie was, however, noticeably absent from her husband’s side during his recent Rock of Ages premiere events.
- TMZ.com also reported that Katie recently rented a new apartment in New York City, separate from the townhouse that the couple shares. That is where she’s reportedly been staying with Suri in recent weeks. The website also noted that Tom stayed in a NYC hotel when he was in town for a few days last month, rather than in their apartment.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT WHERE THEY FILE?
Katie reportedly filed for divorce in New York because courts there are supposedly more likely to grant her sole legal custody and control over child-rearing decisions than California courts.
This could reportedly hurt Tom financially as well since the tax rates are much higher there. Sources say he has purposefully been trying to avoid seeming as though they are residents of New York specifically to avoid any tax-related issues.
- RadarOnline.com claims that Cruise “will file a response in New York, asking that the divorce proceedings be halted in the Big Apple because California is the proper venue for the matter to proceed. Team Cruise is going to assert that Katie doesn’t meet the residency requirements to file in New York, and that both live full time in California, specifically Los Angeles.”
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH 33?
Holmes was Cruise’s third wife — and like Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman before her — she was 33-years-old when they split.
PerezHilton.com reported that there’s an interesting 33 tie to Scientology — as the Hubbard Association of Scientologists was established in Phoenix, Arizona — which lies on the 33rd parallel. And according to numerology, 33 is the “Master Teacher.”
- Meanwhile, according to the couple’s prenup, Katie reportedly got $3 million for each year she remained married to Tom — up to a maximum of 11 years, which totals $33 million. If they were married more than 11 years, she could have been entitled to half of his entire fortune.
IS KATIE BEING FOLLOWED?
TMZ.com claims that Scientology insiders have been trailing Katie over the past few weeks because they believe she could be a threat to the organization.
Sources told the website that there have been several “mysterious” men and vehicles around Katie’s apartment in recent weeks and they have followed her when she’s out.
- TMZ noted that a publication has been tailing Katie for reporting purposes — so that could possibly be the source of the followers.
