Why Does Tom Cruise’s Daughter Suri Become ‘Free to Talk’ about Dad’s Scientology upon Turning 18?

Suri Cruise, the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes was born on April 18, 2006. She is soon turning 18 and has been living life on the low in Manhattan with her mom. As of now, Suri and her father have no relationship.

Even so, as Suri Cruise approaches 18, reaching the age of majority in New York, she gains the legal freedom to openly discuss her father, his beliefs, his Scientology religion, and their estrangement.

Tony Ortega, who has researched Scientology for decades, shared, “Suri would have been too young to sign any agreement, but she will now be free to talk if she wants to and it’s going to be really interesting if she has something to say.”

Tony also explained that part of why Katie left when she did when Suri was six, was because she would have witnessed what Tom’s other kids, Isabella and Connor went through because of Scientology.

At 18, Suri also has the free will to be part of Scientology and embrace fame. From when she was born, Suri sparked a global frenzy as the daughter of A-list celebrities.

At five months, she made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair in the loving arms of her parents, who were still married, snapped by the then couple’s photographer, Anne Leibovitz. Now Suri is all grown and her 18th birthday is approaching on Thursday.

At 18, Suri faces a pivotal decision of whether to embrace the level of fame she experienced as a child, marked by blogs dedicated to her fashion or to continue living the private life that Katie has meticulously crafted for her since she gave Tom their divorce papers.

During the divorce, court documents revealed Tom Cruise acknowledged Katie filed for divorce to protect Suri from the religion, Scientology. Yet, Katie reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements barring her from discussing her marriage to Tom and her immersion in Scientology.

Katie has always been protective of Suri. In 2017, she stated that her child was the most important person to her, emphasizing that her upbringing was paramount to her work at the time. She shared the importance of being present for her child and giving her a stable, innocent childhood.

Katie felt blessed to do what she did in her career, but she believed that nothing in the world was better than watching her child succeed. The actress endeavored to cherish Suri’s childhood while it lasted.

Katie acknowledged the bittersweet reality that children grow more independent each day. Despite the inevitable sadness of their eventual departure, she aimed to provide everything Suri needed before she ventured into her own path.

When Suri was 14, actress Leah Remini believed that Tom intended to wait until his daughter was older to introduce her to Scientology. According to Leah, Scientology viewed Katie as a suppressive person, an enemy.

This meant Tom believed Katie couldn’t have a relationship with Suri. Leah also suggested that Tom’s plan was to eventually draw Suri into Scientology as she grew older, potentially distancing her from her mother.

Leah expressed surprise at Katie’s sudden breakup from Tom in 2012. She recalled Katie being deeply immersed in Tom’s Scientology world. However, Leah commended Katie for prioritizing her daughter’s well-being.

Leah suggested there might be an agreement in place to safeguard Suri. She added that she was proud of Katie Holmes for removing her daughter from what could have been a harmful situation for both Suri and their relationship.

Still, Regarding the future, former Scientology spokesperson Mike Rinder, who hasn’t seen his own two eldest children since leaving the organization, conveyed, “Suri is not a Scientologist and never will be…she deserves love and sympathy.”

Over the years, Katie has showered her daughter with love and care, offering solace after a tumultuous childhood due to her parents’ divorce. Soon, Suri will have the freedom to shape her own path, empowered to make her own choices as she enters adulthood.

One of the choices she has to make is whether she wants to form a relationship with her famous father. But besides how they relate, it is also evident that the two look quite alike. As we previously reported on February 14, 2024, Suri recently captivated public attention, sparking conversations about her striking resemblance to Tom.

The 17-year-old was spotted on a stroll through New York City with her mother. Dressed in a stylish outfit that effortlessly blended contemporary fashion with nostalgic ’90s vibes, Suri Cruise was immediately dubbed her dad, Tom’s, double by fans and onlookers.

Comments flooded social media, with one fan noting, “I see nothing but dad in her face.” Another echoed the sentiment, saying she’s “Tom’s spitting image,” and unmistakably her “father’s daughter.”

One commenter found it funny that Suri was one of the most famous celebrity children but was now living a “normal healthy life.” The commenter remarked on how interesting it was to watch Suri grow into the beautiful young woman she is today.

For Katie, protecting her daughter’s privacy while nurturing her persona has been paramount. “I’m very grateful to be a parent, to be her parent. She’s an incredible person,” she shared.

Katie also remarked that she could see ’90s style coming back through her daughter and wished she had taken her mother’s advice to save some clothing items from her youth.

The artistic talents of Tom’s daughter have not gone unnoticed. Her vocal rendition of “Blue Moon” graced the opening credits of the movie “Alone Together,” directed by her mother, showcasing her impressive musical prowess.

“I hope she always does something on my films. I always ask her,” her mother mentioned. Suri went ahead to contribute singing to “Rare Objects,” another testament to her burgeoning artistic talents. The upcoming talent in Suri is in the great hands of her mother, who does her best to nurture it.