*In her new memoir, *Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman*, actress Brooke Shields reveals 

that Tom Cruise privately apologized to her for his infamous 2005 remarks about her use of antidepressants. 

The apology came after a public feud where Cruise criticized Shields for taking medication to treat her postpartum depression. 

While Shields accepted the apology, she admitted that it wasn’t the most heartfelt, 

but it was the best Cruise was capable of at the time.

The controversy began during a 2005 appearance on the *Today* show, where Tom Cruise publicly disparaged Shields for using antidepressants to manage postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter. 

Cruise, a well-known Scientologist, believed that medication was an irresponsible way to treat mental health issues, particularly postpartum depression. In his now-infamous rant, he called Shields “irresponsible” for using medication, claiming that it “didn’t cure anything.” These comments were met with widespread backlash, especially from Shields, who later penned a scathing op-ed in *The New York Times* to defend her decision to take antidepressants.

In her memoir, Shields reflected on the painful exchange and how she felt compelled to stand up for herself. She acknowledged that had the incident occurred before she became a mother, she might have stayed silent in the face of Cruise’s attack. Instead, her experiences as a mother and her newfound sense of self-confidence gave her the strength to speak out against the “unschooled actor” who was, in her view, “speaking way out of his depth.” She explained that the public feud prompted important conversations about the reality of postpartum depression and the dangers of dismissing mental health treatments.

Shields explained in her book, “Had Tom taken a public swing at me before I became a mother, I probably would have stayed quiet. I would have ignored his ridiculous rant.” But, she continued, her confidence as a mother emboldened her to take a stand. She didn’t want to quietly accept the attack but instead decided to use her voice to advocate for women who were suffering from similar issues.

The actress revealed that after some time had passed, Cruise eventually apologized to her. However, she admitted that the apology wasn’t exactly the “world’s best” one, but rather something that Cruise was capable of offering at that point. Despite its shortcomings, Shields accepted it, showing her willingness to move on from the incident.

The public feud not only sparked a personal conflict between the two but also shed light on the stigmas surrounding mental health, particularly in the context of motherhood. Shields believed that by speaking out against Cruise’s comments, she helped foster important conversations around postpartum depression and its widespread impact on women. She felt empowered to share her own story and believed that doing so was vital to challenging the misconceptions that often surround mental health treatment.

The actress acknowledged that, a decade earlier, she might have felt insecure about speaking out, especially as her career was starting to slow down, and a major Hollywood star like Cruise was publicly criticizing her. She wrote that, in her earlier years, she might have questioned whether she stood a chance against such a powerful figure in the industry. However, she found strength in her own experiences and, ultimately, her role as a mother helped her find the courage to speak out and advocate for herself.

While Tom Cruise has not yet responded to Shields’ recounting of their conflict, the actress’s story adds a personal and reflective layer to the ongoing conversation about mental health, the role of women in Hollywood, and the importance of standing up against damaging stereotypes and opinions.

Shields’ memoir is an insightful look into her journey of self-empowerment, and her willingness to address past conflicts head-on is a testament to her growth as a person and as an advocate for mental health awareness.

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