Will Holmes have a bridal shower?
Photograph: Mark Lees/PA
Some have, rather cruelly, suggested that Tom Cruise's engagement to Katie Holmes is nothing more than a publicity stunt (how could they think that? He proposed at the top of the Eiffel tower; how much more sincerity do people want?). And now the War of the Worlds star has become the victim of the very same.
Four members of a freelance camera crew were arrested at the premiere of the Spielberg film in London, after they squirted Cruise with water as part of a stunt for a new Channel 4 comedy show.
The men were arrested on suspicion of assault and later released on bail. Cruise, who was at the premiere with the latest love of his life, was talking to journalists when he was sprayed with water. Using all his renowned acting skills, Cruise tried and failed to remain cool until he could take it no more, repeatedly calling one of the bogus journalists involved a "jerk".
Looking confused at first, Cruise asks the interviewer, "Why would you do that? ... Why would you do that? ... Why would you do that?"
"What's so funny about that?" Cruise went on, with an earnestness not seen since his lead role in Born on the Fourth of July. "That's incredibly rude. I'm here giving you an interview and you do something really nasty ... it's incredibly rude."
When the interviewer tried to walk away, Cruise showed off his action-man credentials, saying "don't run away" and apparently holding the man until security guards arrived. The Hollywood star then manfully mopped his brow and carried on signing autographs.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: "The incident was for a new Channel 4 entertainment show, part of which involves playing comedy pranks on celebrities and on members of the public.
"The water squirting was not intended to cause offence and was very much in a spirit of fun."
Cruise is famed for his lengthy walkabouts at film premieres, spending hours greeting fans, and was not about to allow a drop of water to get in his way. Holmes has obviously learned well at the feet of the diminutive Scientologist, as she too had spent an hour signing autographs at the premiere of Batman Begins last weekend. Fortunately for her she managed to remain dry as a bone.
Cruise and Holmes announced their engagement on Friday after he proposed to the 26 year old in Paris, presenting her with a huge diamond ring.
Asked about further details of the wedding, Cruise said: "There is going to be a wedding. We don't know when, we don't know where." Whenever and wherever it takes place, there are four pranksters who are unlikely to be guests of the groom.
BBC video clip: Watch as Cruise gets wet.
