What happens when one of the world’s most recognizable stars… isn’t so recognizable?
Look, we already know the Internet will freak out over the slightest change in a celeb’s appearance. Whether it’s Khloé Kardashian’s use of Facetune and filters or Zac Efron seemingly gaining some serious face muscle weight, the social media stans will clock the differences. So when it comes to Tom Cruise, who is known for always looking perfectly put-together and movie-star shiny, Twitter was all over it.
Related: Nicole Kidman Gives Rare Comment About Tom In Harper’s Bazaar Cover Story!
The conversation surrounding the 59-year-old’s looks stemmed from photos and video of him attending a Dodgers vs. Giants baseball game in San Francisco — a rare public outing with his son Connor Cruise (that’s him on Tom’s right, in the black hoodie):
.@TomCruise is in the house for tonight’s game pic.twitter.com/9W9osKe5FX
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) October 10, 2021
Most fans didn’t notice Connor — because they couldn’t see past Tom’s look! His face in the photos definitely looks fuller, even slightly puffy, leading fans to tweet:
“What happened to Tom Cruise’s face? Cuz something definitely happened to Tom Cruise’s face.”
“I know I shouldn’t comment on a gentleman’s looks, but what happened to Tom Cruise’s face? I thought Scientology held the cure for everything including aging.”
“Tom Cruise’s face looks like someone tried to draw 1984 Tom Cruise from memory.”
The Hell is up with Tom Cruise's face? pic.twitter.com/4GgOVLysTA
— THE Twin & Hubs, Making Good Trouble!????????????
???????????? (@CLE_SHONUFF) October 10, 2021
Many Twitter users speculated on the cause behind the change, with theories ranging from getting work done…
“Tom Cruise becomes latest Hollywood star to ruin his face with fillers in an attempt to look ‘youthful’.”
“Tom Cruise has either gained weight, or he has a face full of fillers. I’m going with the fillers .”
“Tom Cruise has got to be recovering from some kind of plastic surgery or something. His face looks swollen and off. It’s not just from aging.”
…or, more seriously, to some kind of medication, perhaps steroids:
“Yep, that’s what I thought too….Prednisone-face. If that’s what it is, he looks a lot better than I did when I was on it.”
“You know it’s gonna turn out that Tom Cruise looks like that now because he’s on the same cancer meds that made Norm Macdonald’s face swell”
Oh goodness…
Related: Remember How Angry Tom Was Over MI:7 COVID Violations?
Some users criticized the commentary on the actor’s appearance altogether, writing:
“Listen i don’t like tom cruise at all (AT ALL), but i’m seriously sick of twitter trashing people for their weight fluctuations. people are allowed to gain and lose weight, and it’s really nunya!!! stop being fatphobic!”
“Tom Cruise putting some weight on in his face because he’s prob not filming a movie requiring him to be in not-human shape and getting memed all over for it feels awfully yucky to me”
“Ok back the hell up people! He doesn’t look like he’s had fillers, he looks like he’s gained weight! Could be for a film role or could be he’s done back 2 back action movies for last 2 decades! He’s 59 years old! Body shaming men or women is not OK!”
And then there were those who weren’t concerned with Tom’s face at all, choosing to focus instead on the action star’s strange answer to a pretty simple question:
Wait everyone is talking about how Tom Cruise looks but no one is talking about how when asked which team Cruise was rooting for he said "I'm a fan of Baseball." https://t.co/yg5769YJD5
— Jessica ; Spooky Scary Dumbass!!!!???? (@BadPostsLLC) October 10, 2021
LOLz! Now that is recognizable as a Tom Cruise answer! But seriously, he was obviously there supporting his son despite not being into it. That’s some good parenting!
This isn’t the first time Tom has provoked intense curiosity, and it likely won’t be the last. We just hope he’s healthy, rather than some of the more serious medical condition speculation. In any case, the fact that he’s out and about enjoying himself is probably a good sign.
Ch-ch-check out some more Twitter reactions (below):
I think that’s actually someone wearing a Mission Impossible mask of Tom Cruise’s face… https://t.co/GN7PmvIgBe
— Son of Sam ???? (@SamuelMaw) October 10, 2021
At first I felt a little bad that everyone was making fun of Tom Cruise's face because it honestly looks like some sort of side effect to me, but then I remembered he's spent decades criticizing people for taking meds. Drag that pillow face.
— Tom and Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) October 10, 2021
To everyone saying that Tom Cruise doesn't look like Tom Cruise… what do you expect?
When you've pulled your own face off a thousand times, it's gonna leave traces. pic.twitter.com/EvSvGxMQdN— One Dangerously Optimistic Tern ???? (@1goodtern) October 10, 2021
I have waited my entire life for the day someone would botch Tom Cruise’s face. This is my Superbowl. https://t.co/2EosdxDa0q
— CASSANDRA (@CassaClaire) October 10, 2021
i’ve heard of deepfakes, but i had no idea those eggheads in silicon valley could do realtime face mashups. joe rogan/ben affleck is pretty good, but they really topped themselves with tom cruise/tim allen!!! pic.twitter.com/vVY6TYAbEc
— josh androsky (@ShutUpAndrosky) October 10, 2021
[Image via KIKA/WENN]
The post Twitter Divided Over Tom Cruise's New Look! See The Controversy! appeared first on Perez Hilton.
