"Apologize to the Unemployed" - 5 Staff Members Who Angered Tom Cruise End Up Quitting Their Jobs

by Lim Juhyeong

Published 17 Dec.2020 17:43(KST)

Profanity Directed at Staff Violating Quarantine Rules on the Set of 'Mission Impossible 7'

American actor Tom Cruise at the filming site of the movie 'Mission Impossible 7' / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Some of the production staff of the movie "Mission Impossible 7," who angered Tom Cruise by not following the COVID-19 prevention guidelines, have left the set.

On the 16th (local time), according to the British media outlet The Sun, five employees who were cursed at by actor Tom Cruise for violating COVID-19 prevention rules were eventually fired.

According to the media, after Tom Cruise, the lead actor and producer of "Mission Impossible 7," got angry on the afternoon of the 15th, the news spread through media reports, which increased the anger towards the related staff and led to their dismissal.

At the time, Tom Cruise was filming "Mission Impossible 7" at Leavesden Studios on the outskirts of London, UK.

During filming, he shouted at two employees in front of the monitor who violated the prevention guidelines, saying, "If you don't practice social distancing one more time, you will be fired immediately."

Tom Cruise on the set of the movie 'Mission Impossible 7'. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to the transcript released by The Sun, Tom Cruise said that day, "We are creating thousands of jobs through this movie right now, you XX," and criticized, "No need to apologize. Go apologize to those who lost their jobs because the film industry is collapsing."

He added, "People in Hollywood are making movies because of us right now. Because they trust us," emphasizing, "The studio, insurance companies, and production companies are all watching us."

He also warned, "If you do that one more time, you're out," and "The same goes for everyone else."

The reason Tom Cruise was sensitive about the prevention guidelines is reportedly because the film's shooting had been halted several times due to the impact of COVID-19.

"Mission Impossible 7" was suspended in February due to the spread of COVID-19 but resumed filming in September considering the release schedule.

However, in October, during filming in Venice, Italy, 12 staff members tested positive for COVID-19, causing another delay in filming.

Meanwhile, after news broke that Tom Cruise had gotten angry at staff on set, Hollywood has reportedly responded positively, according to local US media such as The Hill.

Actor and broadcaster Whoopi Goldberg said on her ABC show "The View" about the incident, "Some people don't understand why he (Tom Cruise) got so angry, but this is his movie," emphasizing, "If he gets COVID-19, the movie is over."