Ex-Scientologist: Cruise 'scary to watch'

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HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The relationship between U.S. actor Tom Cruise and Scientology leader David Miscavige is so close the lines between them are blurred, an ex-Scientologist said.

Former Scientologist Steve Hall, who headed the church's marketing division for 20 years, said Cruise could have been seen as a victim of charismatic leader Miscavige when he became a Scientologist, but not anymore.

"There's a point of no return, and I think Tom has crossed it," Hall told The Hollywood Reporter. "The time for him to leave was a long time ago. The lines between him and Miscavige are so blurred now."

Former Scientologist Karen De La Carriere said Cruise took on more and more of Miscavige's personality traits as time went on, something Scientologists call valence.

She pointed to Cruise's interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today" show in 2010 as an example of this channeling of Miscavige's personality.

"The way he lit into Matt Lauer, calling him glib and attacking him -- that was exactly how David Miscavige deals with people," says De La Carriere. "That was the purest example of how Tom is in Miscavige's valence. It's a scary thing to watch."

Despite the close relationship, ex-Scientologists say Miscavige frequently talks negatively about Cruise behind his back, THR reported.