Tom Cruise sticks to his COVID outburst at ‘M:I7’ crew: ‘I said what I said’

American actor Tom Cruise was at the receiving end of intense backlash in December last year when he was caught ferociously berating crew members of Mission: Impossible 7 for breaking COVID-19 guidelines on set.

Despite the outrage that mounted against the actor following the charged expletive-ridden rant, the 58-year-old Top Gun star stands by his words.

Speaking to Empire, Cruise said: “I said what I said. There was a lot at stake at that point.”

“All those emotions were going through my mind. I was thinking about the people I work with, and my industry. And for the whole crew to know that we’d started rolling on a movie was just a huge relief. It was very emotional, I gotta tell you,” he added.

In the leaked audio clip, Cruise could be heard berating and verbally abusing the crew members for breaking the COVID-19 rules on set.

“They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us. We are creating thousands of jobs, you [expletive],” he said in the leaked audio.

“I don’t ever want to see it again! Ever! If I see you do it again, you’re [expletive] gone. And if anyone on this crew does it, that’s it — and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever [expletive] do it again,” he added.