Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to Divorce; Actress Files For Sole Custody of Suri
by Free Britney at .Now that's a celebrity breakup we did not see coming today. After more than five years of marriage, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting a divorce.
While many of us were skeptical when they first got together and Tom was proclaiming his love for her on Oprah's couch, the divorce still comes out of left field.
"This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family," says Holmes' attorney Jonathan Wolfe, confirming the TomKat split Friday.
"Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest."
After a relatively brief courtship, the Rock of Ages star, 49, married the former Dawson's Creek star Holmes, 33, in an Italian castle in 2006.
They have one daughter, six-year-old Suri.
No reason was given for the impending Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce, but the couple has not been seen in public together since February (below).
This was Holmes' first marriage and the third for Cruise, who previously was married to Nicole Kidman, with whom he has two adopted children, and Mimi Rogers.
It is unclear if divorce papers have formally been filed, but Tom and Katie are believed to have a prenuptial agreement, and are worth at least $275 million.
Obviously, Tom's earnings comprise the bulk of that, but Kate will no doubt receive a significant settlement. Here's wishing both the best in this tough time.
UPDATE, 2:11 EDT: Katie filed for divorce in New York on June 28, citing the catch-all "irreconcilable differences." She makes no mention of the prenup.
She is asking for sole legal custody and "primary residential custody" of Suri and for a "suitable amount" of child support, plus a division of property.
According to TMZ, Tom "did not see this coming" and there is some "nastiness" going on here, as evidenced by Katie's move to get sole legal custody.
UPDATE, 4:00 EDT: Tom is "very sad," according to another source.
Photos show he was seen wearing his wedding ring just two days ago while filming a new movie in Iceland; Katie also wore her ring this week in New York.
Cruise's rep also released a brief statement saying:
"Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy to work this out."
UPDATE, 6/30: Katie is said to have filed in New York, where the duo has an apartment deeded in her name, because that state's courts are seen as much more likely to grant Holmes' request for sole custody of Suri.
The breaking point in their marriage was apparently Tom's deep ties to Scientology and Katie's fears that Suri would be raised in the controversial church.
[Photo: WENN.com]
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Comments (86 Total)
so what's the big DAMN DEAL???
Normally I support/endorse shared parenting as a Divorce Coach as being in the best interest of the child absent any special circumstances to warrant a different decision. Issues such as alcohol/drug, criminal history etc. In this particular instance I support Katie Holmes filing for sole custody. Tom Cruise has already demonstrated with his divorce from Nicole Kidman that he will not support continued and frequent contact and emotional bonding between the children and the other parent. And because past behavior is the best indicator to future behavior, Holmes team of family and legal advice rightly determined that she too would follow in the footsteps of Kidman if she did not file for sole custody. Now before any one stands up and screams another man hater, let me say that if the position was reversed and Katie Holmes had previously been married and her former spouse had little to no contact with the children, I would take the same position in support of Tom Cruise.
As an ex-Scn I can tell you he is NUTS! Scn "tom-style" is not what I learned. They are using him for his celeb... and generating $$. He is the loser here. What he "spouts off" isn't even Scn! Not that I favor the cult... but in the old daze it had some merit. No more.
Ah, I do understand her fear, but the whole thing about Tom and the scientology can not be a new thing to her. He is famous. He is the best paid actor in Hollywood. What has she earned in the last 5 years? Any money? What is the name of her last movie? He looks well after Isabela and Conor, isn´t he. Their mom has made a new family for herself and is busy with her trouble-full husband and their natural kids. Well...do not see any negativities on Tom´s side...Kate will get a good amount for her busy-with-fashion-clothes life and Tom will remain a good father to Isabela, Conor and Suri.
The man is a nut.