Sumner Redstone, chairman of Paramount, went on the record today claiming that Paramount was ending its contract with Tom Cruise as a result of his recent behavior. I’m calling B.S. on Redstone and Paramount: he was bitter about the prospect of losing his moneymaker and was playing dirty pool by trying to tarnish Cruise’s public image.

The truth is that Tom Cruise and his business partner, Paula Wagner, were setting up a private financing group that will allow Cruise to make movies without Paramount - most likely at far more favorable financial terms than Paramount was offering him under his current contract. So he was getting ready to leave Paramount anyway…

So how does Redstone react? Like a child throwing a temper tantrum by trying to tarnish Cruise’s image so that he would be so untouchable that the only way Cruise could make further films is to come crawling back to Paramount (under far less favorable terms to be sure)…That’s just nasty below-the-belt business…

The truth is that Tom Cruise is a bona fide box office draw, and there’s no way that a studio would let him go no matter how bizarre his antics. To put it plainly, Sumner Redstone is a liar and even his subordinates are trying to distance themselves from his remarks…Shame on Redstone and shame on Paramount for not disowning his comments..

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