Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has finally had it with all the talk, chatter and innuendo.

A day after the actor spent quality time with daughter Suri in New York City, the star - through attorney Bert Fields - went off on Life & Style today for its latest cover story, which alleges Cruise has "abandoned" his child and left her "in tears."

In regard to the assertion, Fields has sent an email that reads:

"That, as anyone knows who saw their photos together yesterday and today, is a disgusting, vicious lie. Until this week, Tom was shooting a film on location, but he spoke to Suri every day.

"He's with Suri right now; and he was with her the day before Life & Style trumpeted their cruelly false accusation. Tom dearly loves Suri and the last thing he would ever do is abandoned her."

In a People magazine article, meanwhile, a source says Cruise quickly finalized his divorce and has based all his subsequent decisions on the well-being os his six-year old daughter.

Simply put, Tom Cruise did not see this coming. Not one bit.

Despite various bloggers and media outlets claiming the actor and Katie Holmes agreed to some kind of five-year marriage contract, the latest issue of People quotes a source who swears Cruise was taken aback by his wife's divorce filing.

What did I not see? Cruise wondered on June 28 when news broke, this insider tells the magazine.

The most difficult part for Cruise was not seeing his daughter for nearly a month - they finally reunited in New York City yesterday - but he was off filimg a sci-fi movie called Oblivion.

"He's wanted to see her as fast as possible since this started," said the source. "He couldn't shut down production, cost people their jobs. People count on him."

Why did Tom and Katie agree to such a quick settlement? Look no further than the toddler in his arms above.

"Tom tried his best to do what's right for Suri," according to his lawyer Bert Fields, who adds that the star is "sad" but not "bitter" about the situation.

For more on this story, pick up the issue of People that goes on sale Friday.

Suri Cruise suffered through a car accident last night, but that apparently was not the worst experience this six-year has been through in the last 24 hours.

For the first time since her parents split, Suri was stuck hanging out with Tom Cruise today, as photographers in New York City captured the actor carrying his daughter off into The Greenwich Hotel. See for yourself:

Insiders say Cruise has wrapped his latest film and will be spending a lot more time with Suri in the near future. He's reportedly taking her to Chelsea Piers later today for a gymnastics lesson.

A source tells TMZ that Tom picked Suri up, spending five minutes in his old apartment, but ex-wife Katie Holmes was NOT on the premises.

No word yet on if these two plan a face-to-face meeting, but a friend describes Cruise as "sad but not bitter" over the divorce.

[Photo: James Devaney/WireImage]

Tom Cruise's attorney, Bert Fields, demands that the National Enquirer and its parent company, American Media, retract its new cover story about the actor's just-settled divorce from Katie Holmes or face a defamation complaint of epic proportions.

Among other tawdry allegations, the magazine claims Cruise's home was akin to a "house of horrors" and that his estranged wife, Holmes, lived a "tortured life" in a marriage that was a "living nightmare" in virtual lockdown for years.

Fields absolutely went OFF on what he said was a "disgraceful and lurid cover with bogus, red and yellow headlines announcing one cruel lie after another about Mr. Cruise and his family" and went on to take them apart one by one:

"Contrary to your headlines, Mr. Cruise has not engaged in any 'abuse' or 'humiliation' of Katie Holmes," he wrote. "Nor has he ever subjected her to any punishments."

"It is also completely untrue that Mr. Cruise ever subjected his wife to relentless verbal abuse, emotional punishment, humiliation and intimidation."

"These are all egregious lies. He did none of these things."

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Was Tom Cruise totally blind-sided by his divorce from Katie Holmes? Looks like the actress may have planned the whole thing in secret!

E! Online is reporting that Holmes used a secret disposable cell phone to contact her lawyers about the divorce plans. Not only that, but the actress apparently purchased the Manhattan apartment where she is now living with her daughter Suri before the divorce news broke.

With their divorce settlement agreed upon very quickly, this is all looking to be very calculated on the part of Holmes. Holmes even spent part of every month in New York for the last two years, a requirement to obtain residency there!

Did Tom know about the plans, and the two decided to keep it from the media together? Or did Katie hit him over the back of the head with it after everything was already in motion? What do you think happened?

The terms of TomKat's divorce settlement will remain confidential, but Katie Holmes got "exactly what she wanted" from Tom Cruise, according to reports.

Holmes, who initially filed for sole custody, will receive primary legal custody of their daughter, Suri Cruise, 6, with generous visitation rights for her dad.

"She won and she is happy. Very happy," a source close to Katie said of the star, who blindsided Tom last month. "She can move on and finally live her life."

The decision to divorce Tom Cruise after nearly six years of marriage wasn't easy, but Holmes "did this only for her daughter ... that's all she cared about."

The actress, who secretly began renting her own NYC apartment two weeks before filing for divorce, "pulled it off brilliantly," according to the source.

"She has her career back and her daughter. She will be a huge star now ... This was all played so well. Katie is very happy with how it all came out."

Um, congratulations? She still got divorced. Sometimes breakups can be for the best and all, but that assessment just sounds so calculated and cold.

Of course, if she really feared Scientology taking over her daughter's life, Katie may have felt she had no choice but to approach it in this manner.

We will likely never know, but credit must be given to both sides for settling this in record time, and amicably, regardless of what caused the rift.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter Suri Cruise was the force behind their prompt divorce settlement, as neither party wished to see her affected by it.

Katie and Tom seemed poised for nuclear war after she filed for sole custody in divorce papers, but in the end, Suri played peacemaker rather than weapon.

After Katie filed, hostility was off the charts as she looked to strip of all decision-making power in Suri's life, allegedly fueled by fears of Scientology.

Tom responded by unleashing the full power of his team of attorneys. Yet less than two weeks later, the two sides negotiated a divorce settlement.

It's almost unheard of, and they can thank Suri for it.

A series of conversations with Suri and close confidants apparently made TomKat realize the six-year-old could be irreparably damaged by parental warfare.

This hit home with both Tom and Katie, and allowed the lawyers to go into negotiations looking to deal amicably, rather than stick it to the other side.

The terms remain confidential, but Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes agreed that Suri will live primarily with her mother with "generous visitation" by her dad.

"They both love their daughter," says one source, and while he wants to be a big part of her life, forever, "Tom thinks she should be with her mother."

The superstar also "didn't want his family dragged through the mud," says the source. "Neither one of them wanted this to be hashed out in public."

Due credit to both for seeing that it wasn't.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have already settled their divorce out of court, according to reports, heading off a potentially costly and public battle.

Katie's lawyer, Jonathan Wolfe, told TMZ just moments ago that it's a done deal: "This case has been settled and the agreement has been signed."

"We are absolutely thrilled for Katie and her family and we are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life."

Wolfe added, "We thank Tom and his counsel for their professionalism and diligence that helped bring about this speedy, amicable resolution."

Tom's lawyer, Bert Fields, also adds, "The case has been settled with a signed agreement ... Tom is really pleased we got there, and so am I."

In the last few days lawyers for both sides began quietly negotiating a legal settlement and trying to end what began as a bitter divorce war.

The one condition Tom had for settling out of court was "meaningful, significant" contact with daughter Suri, now 6; presumably he got it.

What that means in terms of legal custody is unclear. Katie filed for sole custody when she blindsided Tom with divorce papers in late June.

The couple had a prenup, so Katie's financial share was likely established before the lawyers even got together; Suri was the focal point here.

More details to follow when they become available, but we're happy for all. Even if the marriage didn't work out, the split could've been worse.

[Photo: Fame/Flynet]

Suri Cruise likely holds the key to divorce settlement talks between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, even if the six-year-old has no idea of this fact.

Lawyers for both sides are trying to work out a settlement that would avoid a costly, ugly, protracted and public court dispute between them.

Custody of young Suri could make or break that deal, as Tom insists any deal offers him "meaningful, significant contact with his daughter."

One source put it, "She is the primary concern in his life."

Katie filed for sole custody in June, reportedly prompted by fears that Tom's Scientology beliefs would become a central component of her life.

Tom's people have disputed this, albeit without really elaborating.

Regardless, Holmes' camp reportedly has assured Tom he will be able to spend time with his daughter when he finishes his new movie shoot.

Lawyers for both sides met for a full business day on Saturday, working on not just a temporary stopgap but a settlement for the divorce.

Attorneys are negotiating custody, visitation, support and property settlement, and while the tone has been "calm," things are still in flux.

In other words, a deal could get done, or talks could break down at any time. But for the moment, no one is rushing to the courtroom.

[Photo: Fame/Flynet]

Lawyers for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are working to hash out a settlement in their divorce case in hopes of avoiding a protracted, public battle.

Quite the contrast from Kris Humphries, who's been fighting Kim Kardashian tooth and nail almost a year later ... and getting Myla Sinanaj pregnant.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Lawyers on both sides are in talks to negotiate a prompt, amicable and private Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce.

"Neither one of them wants this to be hashed out in public," says a source.

Holmes's visit comes after Cruise attorney Bert Fields spoke to the BBC about his plan to let the other side play the media before filing a response.

"Tactically we can't say where Tom will file a divorce case and if he'll be seeking joint custody of [six-year-old daughter Suri Cruise]," said Fields.

Sources say the lawyers are negotiating child custody, visitation, child support and a property settlement between the couple, which has a prenup.

The whole settlement could be ratified in New York if all goes well, preempting a rumored move by Tom's camp to transfer the case to California.

Here's hoping they get it done for their own good, and their daughter's.

[Photo: WENN.com]