Film crew quits over Tom Cruise spray

Five staff have quit Mission Impossible amid a second meltdown by star Tom Cruise.

The Sun published leaked audio of the actor letting rip after two crew members breached COVID rules by standing too close together at Warner Bros. Studio in the UK – which has been hit hard by the pandemic – with sources revealing another eruption followed on Tuesday night as news of his rant emerged.

RELATED: Tom Cruise’s foul-mouthed rant at crew

A source said: “The first outburst was big but things haven’t calmed since. Tension has been building for months and this was the final straw. Since it became public there has been more anger and several staff have walked.

“But Tom just can’t take any more after all the lengths they have gone to just to keep filming at all. He’s upset others aren’t taking it as seriously as him. In the end, he’s the one who carries the can.”

Delays have blighted the franchise’s seventh instalment.

RELATED: ‘Agree with Tom’: Cruise rant divides fans
 

RELATED: Win a new camera worth $4k

Cruise, 58, who plays Ethan Hunt and is a producer, has pumped a fortune into COVID measures including hiring a cruise ship so staff can isolate.

In October, he held crisis talks with director Christopher McQuarrie days after 12 people on set in Italy were said to have tested positive.

Since returning to the UK two weeks ago, Cruise has been pictured wearing a mask on set.

In his first rant, he warned the 50-strong crew they’d be “f***ing gone” if they ignored guidelines.
 

He also told staff at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire: “We are creating thousands of jobs you motherf***ers.”

A source said: “Tom has taken it upon himself to try to enforce precautions with a view to keeping the film running.”

But Spencer MacDonald, of entertainment union Bectu, said: “After a very difficult year for freelancers working in the industry, the last thing crews deserve is a multi-millionaire Hollywood star screaming abuse and threatening their jobs.”
 

The reaction to Tom Cruise’s potty-mouthed spray has divided the internet.

While the initial reaction sparked a level of horror – reminiscent of Christian Bale’s infamous on-set rant in 2009 – there has also been a swarm of people supporting Cruise’s behaviour, applauding him for taking coronavirus measures seriously.
 

THIS. IS. GODDAMN. BEAUTIFUL.

I wish MORE people in charge would react like this to people who violate protocols or not wearing masks. If only more people saw the bigger picture that Tom is highlighting here.

Good on @TomCruise . Thanks for setting an example on this, sir! https://t.co/YH9ICI2CCT

— John Rocha (@TheRochaSays) December 16, 2020

Maybe, if some people had gotten yelled like that, the world would probably be in better shape. Agree with Tom 1000%. He’s not unhinged, he’s enraged at crew members being irresponsible. And this was not the first time. At some point, you lose it. #TomCruise https://t.co/ry7NhPc5kT

— Roberta (@Rob_cacci) December 16, 2020

Veteran actress Whoopi Goldberg also defended Cruise on The View.

“You know, some people don’t understand why he would get so angry. I get it,” she began.

“You can get a new camera operator – no disrespect to camera operators. You can get a new sound man. But if [Cruise] is looking over and he can see you not doing what you’re supposed to be doing, it’s kind of like a little bit of a middle finger, in my opinion.”

“We are not shutting this f***ing movie down. Is it understood? If I see it again, you’re f***ing gone.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission.