Talk show host comes to Cruise's defence

Matt Lauer has come to Tom Cruise's defence after Paramount Pictures cited the star's behaviour as the reason for their decision not to renew their affiliation with his production company.

It was during an interview with the Today Show host that Cruise famously made comments condemning the use of anti-depressant drugs. However, Lauer has swept aside the resulting criticisms, saying that film studios openly tolerate much worse behaviour from actors.

The presenter declared: “You know what, I have to say something. You talk about erratic behaviour and things like that affecting the box-office, and yes maybe he jumped on a couch, and I was in the middle of one of those episodes here on the Today Show and maybe he speaks out about Scientology and some people don’t like that.

"But what about the stars who are in and out of rehab every week? Is that any worse? And yet you find movie companies still in business with them. So, this is all a strange world we live in."