Will Smith and Scientology: What He Says—and Why the Rumor Keeps Circulating
After his World Cup 2026 opener, Tom Cruise has sparked renewed debate over Hollywood’s Scientology ties — not the stunts — with Will Smith centre stage.
When Tom Cruise stepped to the mic during the 2026 World Cup final broadcast with an unexpected monologue, the moment did more than surprise soccer fans. Within hours, critics and some former celebrity members of the Church of Scientology were online saying the speech echoed coded language from the religion, kicking up a fresh round of debate — and sending people back to old interviews where A-listers addressed Scientology head-on.
One clip making the rounds again is Will Smith’s firm denial from 2008, after rumors swirled that he and Jada Pinkett Smith were joining the church. Speaking to the New York Daily News, Smith separated his friendship with Cruise from his own beliefs.
"You do not have to be a Scientologist to be a friend of Tom Cruise."
In the same interview, Smith described his own outlook in broad, interfaith terms.
"I am a student of all religions. And I respect all people and all paths."
That summer also brought a denial from Kimora Lee Simmons, who pushed back on reports that she was handing out Scientology literature to local schoolchildren, according to the Daily News’ coverage at the time.
What Cruise has said
Cruise’s relationship with Scientology goes back to 1986, when he was introduced to it by then-wife Mimi Rogers. He rarely speaks about it on red carpets, but at the 2016 London premiere of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, he briefly did, telling ITV News:
"It is something that has helped me incredibly in my life."
"So, it’s a beautiful religion. I’m incredibly proud."
He also said at the time that his decades in the church were central to his success. And in a 2012 interview with Playboy, Cruise described the catch-22 of discussing his faith in the press:
"What’s interesting is, if I don’t talk about my religion, if I say I’m not discussing it or different humanitarian things I’m working on, they’re like, ‘He’s avoiding it’."
He added there that he prefers to keep promotional interviews focused strictly on the movies.
Cruise’s first connection to Scientology dates to 1986 through Rogers — a tie that now stretches roughly 40 years.