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In a revealing interview, actress Brooke Shields addressed her decades-old conflict with Tom Cruise regarding postpartum depression medication in her new memoir “Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old.” She acknowledged receiving an apology from Cruise, albeit one she described as less than perfect, following his 2005 criticism of her use of antidepressants.
The controversy stems from Cruise’s appearance on the “Today” show with Matt Lauer, where he labeled Shields “irresponsible” for using medication to treat postpartum depression, asserting that “it didn’t cure anything.”
Shields dismisses Cruise’s comments in her memoir, characterizing them as a power play rather than a moral stance. “It was so ridiculous to me. It’s not about the moral thing, or the right thing, or the good thing. It’s about who has more power,” she writes.
When Tom Cruise—in an infamous June 2005 #Today appearance—criticized her for saying she'd found antidepressants helpful, Shields was "gobsmacked." pic.twitter.com/zqIMzfdMq9
— E! News (@enews) January 15, 2025
However, scientific evidence supports Cruise’s original assertions. The long-standing “chemical imbalance” theory of depression has been thoroughly debunked, as highlighted in a 2022 study by Professor Joanna Moncrieff and Dr. Mark Horowitz. Their research concluded that “It is important that people know that the idea that depression results from a ‘chemical imbalance’ is hypothetical. And we do not understand what temporarily elevating serotonin or other biochemical changes produced by antidepressants do to the brain. We conclude that it is impossible to say that taking SSRI antidepressants is worthwhile, or even completely safe.”
This revelation isn’t new to medical professionals. The fundamental flaw in the chemical imbalance theory becomes apparent when considering that no medical test exists to measure brain chemical levels, making it impossible to determine what constitutes a “balanced” state.
Pharmaceutical companies have long been vague about how these medications function. Take Eli Lilly’s disclosure to the FDA regarding Prozac, which stated that “the actions of Fluoxetine (Prozac) are presumed to be linked to its inhibition of CNS neuronal uptake of serotonin.” The use of “presumed” indicates uncertainty about the drug’s precise mechanisms.
Furthermore, antidepressants come with documented risks, including mania, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, behavioral changes, anxiety, aggression, confusion, depersonalization, hallucinations, paranoia, and cognitive disturbances.
when brooke shields lies about tom cruise apology and thinks people forgot but the internet never forgets https://t.co/fJ0KnerMo8 pic.twitter.com/7xWht8xohm
— tweety (@tweetyenergy) January 14, 2025
While Shields maintains that antidepressants helped her through postpartum depression, her continued defense of the discredited chemical imbalance theory potentially misleads others about the nature of these medications. Rather than acknowledging the validity of Cruise’s statements in light of current scientific understanding, she focuses on his eventual apology.
Twenty years after the initial controversy, the scientific community has validated Cruise’s skepticism about the chemical imbalance theory. This development suggests that perhaps it’s Shields who owes an apology for perpetuating misconceptions about mental health treatment, particularly given her influential platform.
The ongoing debate highlights the importance of accurate information about mental health treatments, especially considering the potential risks associated with psychiatric medications. As our understanding of mental health continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly crucial for public figures to acknowledge and correct past misconceptions rather than maintaining outdated positions.
