A couple of hours ago I showed you pictures of private investigators, allegedly hired by Tom Cruise, to keep Katie Holmes under surveillance in her new apartment. TMZ reports that Katie thinks the private investigators are working for Scientology, the controversial church Tom is very involved in. I’m not sure if there’s much of a difference if these people work for Tom or Scientology: it’s creepy nonetheless! It would help explain why Katie rented her own place.

We’re told Katie believes in recent weeks — as the discord between her and Tom Cruise grew — Scientology has been following her moves, especially in New York City… People who have photographed Katie multiple times tell TMZ there have been several “mysterious” men and vehicles around Katie’s apartment and following her when she’s out.

TMZ also cites the Mercedes and Escalade SUVs that were in the paparazzi pictures earlier. However, a publication is also said to have Katie under surveillance, so it’s unclear if these people work for the publication or Scientology. TMZ said that if the divorce does stay in New York, where custody is more likely to be awarded to one parent or the other if they’re in conflict, then evidence Katie was put under surveillance will help her case. This seems like a matter ANY court should take under consideration: this is crazy!

UPDATE: Scientology’s attorney told TMZ they are NOT having Katie followed.

Photos by Marquez/FameFlynet

Tom Cruise’s longtime lawyer, Bert Fields, told the LA Times that he hopes Tom’s divorce from Katie Holmes is amicable. That seems almost laughable from everything we’ve been told so far, but the attorneys the newspaper spoke to offered some much tamer views of the divorce proceeding so far (of course, issues like surveillance weren’t discussed). Bert said:

“I would hope that it’s not a contentious matter. I know Tom is not a particularly contentious person.”

Bert said he couldn’t comment on whether or not Tom and Katie had a prenup. Raoul Felder, a Manhattan divorce attorney, offered up a reason Katie may have filed in New York rather than California that had nothing to do with custody decisions.

“My guess is that she brought it in New York because files are sealed. If it was in California, it’s all public and you can walk into the clerk’s office and get the papers.”

It seems like Tom wouldn’t be opposed to that, and that could be leverage Katie could use to keep the divorce proceedings in New York: she could refuse to agree to have a private judge hear the matter but make it all public if he insists on going to California. Perhaps things aren’t as nasty as they seem, although the custody issue is hard to forget. Or Bert’s comments are part of the spin. We’ll find out. We do know Tom has hired the same attorney he used in his divorce from Nicole Kidman.

Photos by AAR/Fame

A source told E! News that the marital problems between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes weren’t really about Scientology. It was more their life in general: Katie is said to not have been happy with their lifestyle and the focus on Tom’s career. This split was in the making for a while, according to this source.

“The fairy tale was over. They had become more like friends. It wasn’t a surprise to Tom. He knew it was coming. They have had problems for a while. His career came first, always, and Katie wasn’t happy anymore.

“She wanted him home, and for them to be together. But Tom only knows how to be a movie star. He’s a great dad and husband when he is there and present, but…work comes first.

“[Holmes] left him because she wanted a better life for her and her daughter. Suri has no friends. She does not have a normal life, and that was becoming more and more apparent as she was getting older. Katie wants to get a project that keeps her in one place so Suri can go to school, have friends, have play dates, all the things that she doesn’t have at the moment.

“Katie was willing to give up an unhappy marriage for a happier life for her daughter. She feels like she is bringing up Suri alone anyway. She doesn’t want Suri having to fly all over the world to see Tom. She wants normality.”

So this could be the reason Katie wants sole custody- it may have nothing to do with Scientology at all. This doesn’t seem like a great reason to deny Tom joint legal custody, though. Do you think?

Photos by Diane Cohen/FAME

Katie Holmes’ parents aren’t the only ones noticing a difference in the actress since she filed (or probably decided to divorce) Tom Cruise. Others around Katie are saying it seems like she’s been “set free” in the last few weeks. A source told Us Weekly:

“She’s been miserable for a long time, but the last couple of weeks, she’s been happy — like she’s been set free. I was wondering what changed with her. I guess she can finally be happy again.”

 

When you’re in an unhappy marriage, I can see where finally making a decision about what to do can lift your mood. Katie was in an unhappy situation, she decided on what to do, took action- that would brighten anyone’s outlook! But hopefully Katie does realize that, if she really wants to fight Tom for custody, there are some tough times ahead.

Photos by JD/FameFlynet

I think this is really the question on a lot of people’s minds: who has more to lose in this high profile divorce, Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes? Bonnie Fuller of Hollywoodlife.com told USA Today that Tom has a lot to lose, given the challenges he’s faced since he and Katie started dating (who could forget the couch-jumping incident on Oprah?) The superstar cannot afford to risk his reputation again in a nasty divorce, Bonnie says.

“This cannot turn into an ugly divorce battle. And there should be no public fight over Suri. If people perceive that he’s not being generous with Katie or Suri or he’s trying to take Suri away from Katie, I think that would be the greatest harm he can do for his public image.”

Bonnie even went so far as to say that Tom should pay Katie “whatever it takes” to keep the divorce quiet. But does that mean giving up legal custody of Suri? Bonnie doesn’t go that far, but I guess that’s the implication. As another person put it:

“[Tom] is keenly aware of his precarious public image, and knows selling movie tickets to his latest film is inherently tied to this.”

Yet what about Katie’s career? One source said Katie is actually more at risk.

“She was trying to find her way in Hollywood before she married Tom and she’s still in the same place.”

It’s true that Katie isn’t regarded the same way as Tom’s second ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, is. Something tells me both will be more focused on Suri than on their careers, but part of being a celebrity is that what occurs in your personal life can impact your image, and thus your career. Who do you think has more to lose, Tom or Katie?

Photos by CWNY/FAME

Although Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes appear to have been problems for at least a little while, it seems that Tom was still caught by surprised when Katie filed for divorce late last week. Surprised or not, regardless of the seemingly major custody battle that looms over their daughter, Suri, Tom is still going to work. He’s shooting the sci-fi movie ‘Oblivion’ in Reykjavik, Iceland. A source tells Us Weekly:

“Tom just wants to work hard and finish everything on time.”

And that’s what he’s doing. Tom has to fly to the set by helicopter every day, so here he is, making his way to work through a rain storm. It’s smart for Tom to do this: the sooner he’s done with ‘Oblivion,’ the sooner he can focus on the divorce. Hopefully, when things settle, he and Katie may be able to work out an agreement, although it doesn’t seem likely at the moment.

Photos by Uffe Kongsted/FameFlynet