“Why would you do that?”: Tom Cruise Makes Reporter Regret His Decision to Prank the Hollywood’s Daredevil With a Fake Microphone
An actor’s job doesn’t end with a movie’s filming schedule. They have to keep up appearances across red carpet events, award shows, and promotional events to spread awareness of their upcoming projects. However, such events become a hassle when reporters try to get too personal or perform meaningless pranks on the actors. An older video of Tom Cruise has resurfaced where he’s dealing with such a reporter.
Reporter Pranking Tom Cruise With Fake Microphone
Tom Cruise has a reputation for getting irked by reporters who ask personal questions or who try to get too up close. In the past, a few reporters have faced Cruise’s anger when they bring up Nicole Kidman or his ex-wife Katie Holmes. A similar incident sparked Cruise’s angst after a reporter from Channel 4 sprayed water on the Mission Impossible actor using a fake microphone.
In 2005 during the War of the Worlds premiere in London, Cruise was walking the red carpet and speaking to journalists regarding the release and his work. Even though it was meant as a light-hearted prank, Cruise was not humored by the reporter and instead called him a jerk. Cruise remains calm at first and laughs the situation off. However, he soon gets angry when the reporter tries to flee the scene. Cruise said,
“Why would you do that? Do you like thinking less of people, is that it? Don’t run away. That’s incredibly rude. I’m here giving you an interview and you do that … it’s incredibly rude.”
The video went viral on YouTube and now on social media where people across the world applauded Cruise for how he tackled the situation. He does not lose his mind or go berserk on the reporter, rather urges him to apologize. Recalling the prank later, the actor says,
“You can’t be prepared for something like that. When things like that happen I have no hesitation in confronting it. … There are bullies, people who like to make people feel less and feel bad. Those people need to be confronted. In my life I have never felt something like that is funny.”
Also Read: Bill Hader Freaked Out Watching Tom Cruise Without Makeup After Shooting Tropic Thunder With Him
Channel 4 Issues Apology to Tom Cruise
After the incident unfolded as it did, Channel 4 had to issue an apology to keep matters from getting worse. Even though Cruise did not press charges, the channel straightened out the matter with a statement of apology.
“The stunt was intended to be light-hearted rather than malicious and we would apologise to Mr Cruise for any offence that was caused. The incident that took place on Sunday evening involving Tom Cruise was for a new Channel 4 entertainment show, part of which involves playing light-hearted comedy pranks on celebrities and members of the public.”
This incident also ignited a more important conversation where younger people are seen taking advantage of celebrities and older people who are in the limelight. Such pranks are recorded and spread across social media to get more engagement and become famous overnight. They don’t realize the impact such an action can have on the person receiving it.
