NEW YORK (AFP) - An explosive and unauthorized biography of Hollywood star Tom Cruise hit US bookshelves Tuesday, despite an angry denial of the books most startling allegations from The Church of Scientology.
Cruise, one of the most high-profile members of the group, had no immediate comment to make on the book, according to his publicists office, while the church described the book as "a bigoted, defamatory assault replete with lies."
Penned by British journalist and writer Andrew Morton, who lifted the lid on Princess Dianas marriage in "Diana: Her True Story," the book offers a mostly unfavorable portrait of Cruise as a calculating control freak.
The Church of Scientology, which comes across as the real subject of the book, issued a lengthy statement rebuffing some of the books most lurid allegations and insisted Morton had not given it the right to reply.
"The Church of Scientology requested to be interviewed or be presented with any allegations so we could respond. Morton refused despite our insistence in offering our cooperation," it said in a statement issued to the US press.
"At no time did he request interviews nor did he attempt to get any information from us. Accuracy and truth were not on Mortons agenda," it added.
It dismissed the contents of the book as "vicious sensationalism of the lowest order" filled with "false and scandalous allegations."
The book details lawsuits the Hollywood star has filed over the years against media reports alleging he was homosexual and infertile, while examining the role Scientology played in his marriage to fellow Hollywood star Nicole Kidman.
"Virtually every allegation made about the church concerning Mr. Cruises relationships are false and nothing more than tabloid innuendo," the church said. The book says Kidman saw the church as "the third wheel in her marriage."
"Insinuations that Mr. Cruise is second-in-command of the Church are not only false, they are ludicrous," it added.
In response to perhaps the most bizarre claim of the book it said: "Is it possible Katie (Holmes -- Cruises wife) and Toms baby could be the vessel for L. Ron Hubbards (the founder of Scientology) spirit?...
"The Church does not, and never has believed any newborn is the reincarnation or the offspring of its founder, Mr. Hubbard."
"Was Katie impregnated by L. Ron Hubbards frozen sperm? ... As distasteful as it is to have to say it, Mr. Hubbards sperm was never frozen."
The book routinely refers to scientology as a "cult" saying it "likes to market itself, falsely as an applied religion."
Cruise, meanwhile, is described as "a movie messiah who reflects and refracts the fears and doubts of our times, trading on the unfettered power of modern celebrity, our embrace of religious extremism and the unnerving scale of globalization."
Litigation surrounding the book seems a distinct possibility. It is not being published in Britain for legal reasons, but the Church of Scientology is reportedly considering legal action against US publishers St Martins Press.
The church did not comment on the reports when contacted Tuesday.
Seemingly aware of Cruises history of libel challenges, the book quotes the star as telling Harpers Bazaar "I dont like suing people ... I take no pleasure in it.
"But there comes a point where its beyond silly; its destructive. I will sue. I will sue every single time that I can until it stops. And when they stop, I will stop."
Regardless of possible legal maneuvers, the buzz surrounding the book, entitled "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography," had already helped propel the book to number nine in Amazon.coms list of top sellers Tuesday.
Described in the books dustjacket as "a leading authority on modern celebrity," Morton has also written books about pop icon Madonna and former England soccer captain David Beckham and his wife and Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham.
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