Nicole Kidman: "I've Lost My Kids To Scientology"

Nicole Kidman is finally speaking out in the latest issue of Woman's Day about her "anguish" over her estrangement from her children with Tom Cruise, Isabella,14, and Connor, 12. (Mamapop in all its wonderfullness caught on to this dynamic awhile back.)

Nicole claims that her kids have chosen to stay in the U.S. with their Scientologist father rather than visit their mother in Australia, even planning to spend their holidays this year at a Church of Scientology camp in Oregon.

Reportedly, Nicole is also threatening to reveal "the darkest secrets" of her marriage to ex-husband Tom Cruise. (Is it that he has beaver teeth and a little girl's haircut, by any chance?)

"I don't want to be the one discussing Scientology," a wounded Nicole warily told the magazine when asked about her children's indoctrination during her latest interview.

"My kids want to live in LA and they're at a certain age where they dig in their heels."

Am I the only one who was expecting her to say "A DINGO ATE MY BABY!"?

Comments

[Prisca]

I'm no fan of Tom or Scientology, but do you suppose her 'losing' them to Scientology is really more about teenage kids having a life of their own in the US and not wanting to leave activities behind 'just' to go visit mom? I'd think she'd have some say in this, too. I think the headline screams sensationalism.

I'm interested in what she does have to say about Tom, though. He is a funny one.

[Lena]

Prisca - I would agree with you about the sensationalism part, except that seems to be a direct quote. Soooo...

[Amy H]

It is so sad that Tom isn't supporting Nicole in this by encouraging the children to visit her. It seems like he wants it all. I hate that she has to use the threat of revealing secrets of their marriage just to get some time with them, but if that is what she has to do, I understand. As a mom, her heart must be broken that they have chosen a life with creepy Tom rather than her.

[KD Griffin]

I don't even know what to say about this. It's just a mess. I feel very badly for Nicole because I do believe that Scientology is that dangerous. I did a John Travolta story on my blog once and they didn't attack me exactly but they descended on me with a love fest for John.

[Suzy Q]

Is it just me, or does she seem not all that broken up about this? Maybe she's just being circumspect at this time, but this has been going on for a LONG time. If she were a mother whose babies were being eaten by Dingo Scientologists, AND SHE REALLY CARED, don't you think she'd be back to LA and all up in Tom's face in a heartbeat? I know I would.

HER career (her choice) is what's taken her to Australia and, yes, I know it's her homeland and also I can see why teenagers might not want to go around the world just to visit Mummie for a short while.

But, there's my THIRD point. They're kids! As in MINORS. Who don't get to make all of their own decisions just yet. Which is why they have parents. You know, those people who have to make the hard decisions for the kiddies? Yish. Celebrities make my ass twitch.

[Heather]

Yes, Womans Day is twisting these quotes. But I still wouldn't feel to badly for Nicole. She's the one choosing roles that take her away from the kids for months on end. As soon as she finishes Australia, which she's been filming since April, she's going to Germany to film yet another movie. Choosing these roles shows that she does not take her kids into consideration. She hasn't seen those kids since at least May. That is HER choice and her own fault. And if her kids did choose "creepy" Tom over Nicole, what does that say about Nicole? She doesn't seem to be fighting this too much. I have no sympathy for her.

[kiti]

She should live in the US where here kids were born and raised. It's her duty as a mother to be near her children. Anything short of that, she's not looking out forher children.

[Cindy]

What mom, especially a rich mom wouldn't have a house in Los Angeles and live there when she isn't away working? Nicole Kidman, that's who.

She has a house in New York and Sydney, and occasionally lives in Tennessee, if your kids lived a majority of their time with their father wouldn't you live in the same city your kids live in if you could financially do so?

If she really cared about the kids she would have a house in the same city and if she really cared about the kids she wouldn't make film after film in many different countries non-stop instead of spending time in Los Angeles with her kids. Tom can't legally keep the kids from her, they have joint custody and Tom can't go against the court decision unless Nicole agrees to it.

Most moms sacrifice for their kids, why doesn't she? She, who doesn't need the money chooses to make about 3 films a year instead of making one and spending the rest of the time with her kids. I have no sympathy for her.

[DianaCLT]

Tom's been in Germany - not the US - for quite awhile now, doing his own filming. Where are the kids?

I have to think the brainwashing's getting to the kids...

[AmyC65]

Yeah, it is hard to muster sympathy for a woman who transplanted herself for her husband then whines that her kids don't want to travel the globe to be with her. When she and Keith were engaged and first married, I was sick to my stomach hearing about how "her life is in Nashville now". She has made her choices, she can't expect rational behavior from her kids and if she's afraid of the influences they are exposed to, she should spend more time on their turf and become an involved parent, not a phone-in mom.

[Tere]

Thing is, this is the situation NOW. But it has to have been coming for years now, before Keith, before Katie.

So what's the deal there? What happened years ago to cause this estrangement between Nicole and her kids?

[BaltimoreGal]

I think we're being a little harsh on Nicole here. When she was married to Tom they had a home in Australia and spent time there- she uprooted her life to live with Tom. So now she's supposed to never spend time there because he left her? And DCLT's right that Tom's not been in L.A. for some time. Tom does just as much globe-jumping as her (if not more) so we can't blame her for it. Why should she have to live in LA? Let's not forget her husband is also from Australia.

I think her mistake is being too flexible with her kids. They want to go to camp? Fine. But they should also have to come spend some time with her. Kids that age don't get to run their own lives. I moved every 2 years, roughly, my whole life and it worked out just fine- I think I'm better for it. If these kids have to be "uprooted" for the summer the so be it. They have every other advantage in the world. They'll live.

[emma]

yes nicole is married to australian country singer keith urban whom she is crazy about and she will always be close to her adopted kids even when they are married and with children of their own. she has a very good bond with her children and her new husband. that's nicole even though some of you don't see it. don't forget kids move on and you have to have a life of your own if you want to survive emotionally. emma

[emma]

yes nicole is married to australian country singer keith urban whom she is crazy about and she will always be close to her adopted kids even when they are married and with children of their own. she has a very good bond with her children and her new husband. that's nicole even though some of you don't see it. don't forget kids move on and you have to have a life of your own if you want to survive emotionally. emma

[peyton]

I agree with Tere. There have been a couple of people doubting her and the motives she chooses, but we forget that Tom is a monster when it comes to "winning" battles. When he and Nicole were married, he wanted her to have long hair, no heels, plainly dressed and abiding to his will ONLY. He tried to do the same thing with Katie, but what happened? She cut her hair, she wears heels all the time (even if she falls off one pair) and she does whatever she wants (for the most part anyway). Tom has a HUGE controlling problem and should step back for a second and look at what it's doing to his life and the lives of his wife and children. The thing is, we never hear about his children, ever, so where are they? You never see them together unless they are at a soccer game. Any who... I just think that there's always two sides to everything, but Nicole's strong and has such a warm heart. There's no doubt in my mind that she has tried time and time again to agree on some things with him, but with Tom- there's probably no talking to him. His way is his way and that's final. Let's just see how he screws it all up with Katie. She is also a strong person and shouldn't have to "abide" by anything. She isn't a dog, it's a MARRIAGE.... not an instruction manual- they're supposed to work together. Oh well... I guess that's just the way some people are. I love Nicole and as it may seem otherwise, I don't hate Tom, but personally I just think he needs to find someone else who enjoys his Scientology beliefs. That is what's ruining his marriages; the fact that he has to FORCE them into believing something that they don't. I wish all the luck to both, but my heart goes out to Nicole. ~peyton