It's the 20th anniversary of Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah Winfrey's sofa
The interview has become a shorthand for celebrity eccentricity for good reason.
For those who don't remember, the interview aired on May 23, 2005, around the same time Cruise was first making negative headlines for his association with Scientology.
He went on The Oprah Winfrey Show – then one of the biggest talk shows in the world – and discussed his new romance with Katie Holmes, whom he wed in 2006 and split from in 2012.
Cruise entered the studio to thunderous applause and was visibly ecstatic as he made his way towards Oprah. He was unusually animated, full of energy, and smiling broadly – something that was very unlikely for the actor.
As Oprah asked about his relationship with actress Holmes, Cruise responded with uncontained enthusiasm.
At one point, he stood on the couch, knelt on it, punched the air, and later jumped up and down.
Oprah laughed and said, 'You're gone!' obviously concerned but trying to play along with whatever was happening.
Cruise then repeatedly professed his love for Holmes, calling her 'extraordinary' and saying he had never felt this way before.
He grabbed Oprah's hands and pulled her from her chair, continuing his excited display.
The audience responded with laughter, applause, and some visible confusion, but it was the virality of the clip afterwards that truly stoked fan reaction.
YouTube had only recently come to exist in 2005, and the clip of Cruise was one of the platform's first-ever viral videos, a stark contrast to the likes of TikTok in 2025, where there's a new viral trend every other day.
At the time, with so much less content on the web, viral moments lasted a lot longer (see: 2007's Charlie Bit My Finger), and Cruise's strange interview became the definitive celebrity moment of the year.
News broadcasts, entertainment shows, and late-night comedians latched onto Cruise's bizarre, uncharacteristic energy levels, with the couch-jumping mocked on Saturday Night Live, South Park, and talk shows for weeks.
His exaggerated declaration of love for his new girlfriend felt unrelatable or even suspicious to some viewers, sparking speculation about Cruise's authenticity, mental state, and ties to Scientology.
Some even wondered if the Church of Scientology had arranged his match with Holmes.
A recent Reddit thread unpacks the cultural impact of the interview, with one user asking on r/popculturechat: 'How big of a deal was the Tom Cruise incident on The Oprah Winfrey show at the time?'
Other users quickly responded to assure the original poster that it was seemingly all anyone could talk about that year.
YugisMillenniumBSBcd wrote: 'It was massive! It was one of the last big pop culture things before youtube really took off. Everyone was talking about it without having actually seen it, so people thought it was more shocking than it really was. It didn't help we all knew he's got several screws loose with his Xenu worshipping BS, so the idea of him jumping around the Oprah set like Top Gun: Kangaroo was 10000% believable.'
amomentintimebro agreed: 'Oh HUGE. I remember watching it and the media storm after. He came off as a total crazy person and everyone was super weirded out.'
Aware-Impression8527 chimed in: 'HUGE. There was no social media so celebrities were still kind of remote and moments held more weight (and didn't happen every minute of the day). He had this reputation for being so straight and restrained so to see him jump up and down on a couch was wild.'
In the years since the couch jump was seen around the world, Cruise and Holmes have divorced, and it's believed he's estranged from their shared teenage daughter, Suri, who recently graduated in New York.
She remains close with her mother, though, having dropped the 'Cruise' surname, as she now goes by Suri Noelle.
It was previously claimed that the 46-year-old Dawson's Creek star filed for divorce from Cruise to protect Suri from Scientology, with Suri no longer a practising member of the organisation.
According to The Sun, visits between Cruise and his daughter ceased around 2013, although he previously claimed he 'never cut [her] out' of his life. More Trending
Cruise, currently rumoured to be dating Ana de Armas, also shares adopted children Bella and Connor with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, to whom he was married from 1990 to 2001.
Away from the dramatics of fatherhood, Cruise has managed to rehabilitate his public image.
The Mission: Impossible actor, who recently reprised his role of Ethan Hunt for The Final Reckoning, has even been called 'the last movie star' by those who will forgive just about anything from a man who does his own stunts, whether it be hanging from a plane or plunging to the depths of the ocean (or whatever else he does).
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Netflix fans praise 'suspenseful' dark comedy perfect for Bank Holiday binge watching
MORE: Nicole Kidman's Amazon Prime show branded 'comedically bad' as season 2 drops
MORE: Pregnant news anchor hosts three-hour show after going into labour live on air
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Anna Williamson refuses to ban technology from her kids despite 'fights'
Celebs Go Dating coach Anna Williamson spoke to the Mirror about parenting amid concerns over technology and social media after hosting the Great British Phone Switch Anna Williamson has opened up her approach to parenting, including revealing some of the rules that are in place within her home. The Celebs Go Dating coach offered advice to other parents whilst discussing her own experience. The life coach and presenter, 43, has two children with her husband Alex Di Pasquale, 36. The couple, who have now been together for more than a decade, are parents to an eight-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter together. Anna spoke to the Mirror about her family earlier this week whilst reflecting on the Great British Phone Swap. The Channel 4 show, in partnership with Tesco Mobile, sees parents swap phone habits with their children for 48 hours. Fronted by Anna and clinical psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado, the experiment explores topics including online safety and the use of AI. Each parent and child duo left the experience with a set of goals for their family, such as scheduled time away from devices and weekly check-ins. Asked her main takeaway, Anna said it was "boundaries" and having "healthy, open communication". "Boundaries being time when you are not on your phone and I think we found that was really beneficial for all families," she added. The show also saw parents introduced to their kids' lives on platforms like TikTok. Anna said: "When [they] lent into the teenager's worlds, they were actually less fearful about what was happening because they understood it better." Although her own kids aren't on social media, Anna revealed that her eldest child is now starting to ask when he will be allowed a phone. She shared that even though he doesn't have one yet, she's already using parental control on games and apps that he's interested in on another device. Concerns over screen time were raised on the Great British Phone Swap and Anna teased that she can relate to the other parents. Asked what the dynamic is like in her family, she told us: "We're always fighting against screen time in my house but very much we try and lead from example." Anna said it's "very difficult" as a parent because "a lot of our work nowadays is online". She said that can be tough to convey to kids, who may interpret their parents being on devices as them playing a game or browsing social media. Although that may sometimes be the case, Anna encourages leading by example. She said in our interview: "The approach of 'just do it because I said,' it doesn't really wash because you're typically gonna get a child that will rebel. They won't trust you, they won't lean in to you, they won't talk to you and they will just do it anyway." Anna said that she tries to make sure that her own devices are away as much as possible between the time that she picks her kids up from school and their bedtime. She then explained: "I might jump on later on and reply to emails and do a lot of my messaging after that." She said that as a result when she's trying to get her kids off their devices they know that she's "boundaried" with her own. Anna revealed that her kids get an hour of screen time each per day, which they can use when they want. Anna said their allowance could be used before or after school, through "approved apps" or "things they wanna watch". She said that her son may choose to use his hour altogether on completing a video game level, for example, rather than taking it in scattered periods over the day. "It's teaching your children that they do have a choice but they have a choice within your boundaries," Anna said. Summarising her approach, she added: "So we try and keep reduced screen time. We do have parental controls. I do keep a very close eye on what my children are watching." Anna went on to discuss one participant in the show having suggested that their generation spent time outside, rather than playing on devices, as children. The podcast host however said that it's the "reality" of the world we live in now. She said: "I do think that we have to accept where we are. We always evolve, we have to evolve. [...] I think as we portray in the Great British Phone Switch phones aren't a bad thing. Tech isn't a bad thing. But it's about consuming the right things on it and that's the important thing here." Anna, who said that parents are "always grappling" with issues like screen time and whether to let their children have a phone, told us that she doesn't support banning technology at home. She said: "What I always say is that banning it completely I don't believe is a particularly useful or helpful idea in the long run." She explained: "Because what you ban, you're not teaching someone to use it sensibly. The analogy being; you wouldn't just stick a 17 year old out in a car without giving them driving lessons to teach them how to drive it safely." Anna suggested that the same benefits apply to technology. She said: "It's exactly the same with tech - you need to teach your children how to navigate it. Where the pitfalls are, where the hazards are, where the safe spaces are." She added that banning it completely doesn't give kids the "skills" and the "tools" that they need in the modern world. Anna however suggested that it doesn't mean children should have no restrictions when it comes to using devices. "The heavy caveat is to not be consumed by it and to make sure there are other things going on in your life that are face-to-face," she said. "Making sure that those interpersonal skills are just as acute as their digital skills." Anna also shared that she isn't letting her kids on social media at the moment and opened up about no longer showing their faces on her own Instagram. She recalled making the decision a few years ago when she "became increasingly aware around consent". She said that although her job in the public eye is a choice that she has made, the same can't be said for her kids. "I didn't want my children to be in a position where they thought I'd made the wrong decision for them," she said. Anna went on to say: "I'm not shading anyone that does choose to share their children or their families online. I think everyone makes the right choice for them and their family." All five episodes of the Great British Phone Swap are available now through Channel 4.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
I tried viral angel hair chocolate – what on earth is it?
Now, between me and you, I still haven't tried Dubai chocolate, but when I saw Tesco was now stocking the Noesis Angel Hair Chocolate bar, you bet I got hold of one within a matter of hours. The sweet treat (currently on sale for £4.50 with a Clubcard) is made of ruby and white chocolate, but inside it has pistachio cream and cotton candy (also known as candyfloss to us in the UK). This week, I have watched endless amounts of people eat the chocolate bar on TikTok during my evening hourly doom scroll. Many have compared it to what can only be described as 'eating a carpet' due to the candyfloss "fibres", so I had no idea what to expect, and I think I actually scared myself. Truth be told, I'm still asking, what the hell did I eat? In fact, I can't stop thinking about it, as it might be the weirdest thing I've digested in 2025 so far. As soon as I unwrapped the Noesis Angel Hair Chocolate bar, there was an almighty waft of white chocolate, now this sweet scent of vanilla was a delight to get started with. But then came the real fun part, it was time to snap the chocolate bar in half to see what was waiting for me inside. Have you seen this viral angel hair chocolate at other supermarkets in the UK? (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) Alas, I was greeted by a mass of literal hairy pink and white fibres, and my brain almost exploded – was I really about to eat such a bonkers-looking substance? I know it's candyfloss, but my mind could hardly accept it as it was so dense. Anyway, I got a grip and took a bite - my mouth was instantly filled with a very bizarre texture, I almost felt like I'd bitten into a tea towel and I froze. But after only a few seconds later, I carried on rapidly chewing and noticed it was dissolving. All of a sudden, it turned into a pleasant chocolatey mix so I began to relax. I don't think I will eat anything as weird as an angel hair chocolate bar for the rest of the year (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) I was surprised at just how lovely it tasted, there was a balance of flavours between the creamy ruby and white chocolate, as well as the candyfloss. Recommended reading: Tesco has 'the best' prawn cocktail crisps according to shoppers - do you agree? M&S strawberry sandwich customers are fuming 'it's only half a sandwich' Nestle says 'sorry' as it discontinues KitKat described as 'dream snack' Sadly, I thought the pistachio flavour lacked a little for my liking - in my opinion, there could be more of it. What I will say, is that this bar is only 70g, and although quite thick, it's awfully small for the price (after about two bites each between me and my partner, it was gone). Would I eat it again? Absolutely. But it might be the first and last time I spend near enough £5 for a smaller-than-average bar of chocolate that left my taste buds with such confusion.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
I tried viral angel hair chocolate – what on earth is it?
Now, between me and you, I still haven't tried Dubai chocolate, but when I saw Tesco was now stocking the Noesis Angel Hair Chocolate bar, you bet I got hold of one within a matter of hours. The sweet treat (currently on sale for £4.50 with a Clubcard) is made of ruby and white chocolate, but inside it has pistachio cream and cotton candy (also known as candyfloss to us in the UK). This week, I have watched endless amounts of people eat the chocolate bar on TikTok during my evening hourly doom scroll. Many have compared it to what can only be described as 'eating a carpet' due to the candyfloss "fibres", so I had no idea what to expect, and I think I actually scared myself. Truth be told, I'm still asking, what the hell did I eat? In fact, I can't stop thinking about it, as it might be the weirdest thing I've digested in 2025 so far. As soon as I unwrapped the Noesis Angel Hair Chocolate bar, there was an almighty waft of white chocolate, now this sweet scent of vanilla was a delight to get started with. But then came the real fun part, it was time to snap the chocolate bar in half to see what was waiting for me inside. Have you seen this viral angel hair chocolate at other supermarkets in the UK? (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) Alas, I was greeted by a mass of literal hairy pink and white fibres, and my brain almost exploded – was I really about to eat such a bonkers-looking substance? I know it's candyfloss, but my mind could hardly accept it as it was so dense. Anyway, I got a grip and took a bite - my mouth was instantly filled with a very bizarre texture, I almost felt like I'd bitten into a tea towel and I froze. But after only a few seconds later, I carried on rapidly chewing and noticed it was dissolving. All of a sudden, it turned into a pleasant chocolatey mix so I began to relax. I don't think I will eat anything as weird as an angel hair chocolate bar for the rest of the year (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) I was surprised at just how lovely it tasted, there was a balance of flavours between the creamy ruby and white chocolate, as well as the candyfloss. Recommended reading: Tesco has 'the best' prawn cocktail crisps according to shoppers - do you agree? M&S strawberry sandwich customers are fuming 'it's only half a sandwich' Nestle says 'sorry' as it discontinues KitKat described as 'dream snack' Sadly, I thought the pistachio flavour lacked a little for my liking - in my opinion, there could be more of it. What I will say, is that this bar is only 70g, and although quite thick, it's awfully small for the price (after about two bites each between me and my partner, it was gone). Would I eat it again? Absolutely. But it might be the first and last time I spend near enough £5 for a smaller-than-average bar of chocolate that left my taste buds with such confusion.
