Tom Cruise religion branded 'creepy'

News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch took a swipe at Tom Cruise in a series of Tweets regarding the Hollywood star's controversial religion Scientology.

Cruise has long been a prominent member of the Church of Scientology, often described as a cult. The actor made headlines on Friday when it was revealed his wife, actress Katie Holmes, had filed for divorce and was seeking custody of their daughter, Suri.

“Scientology back in news,” Murdoch posted on his official Twitter feed. “Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in hiearchy (sic).”

Later in the day, he tweeted: “Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people.”

Murdoch acknowledged his tweets would be controversial about an hour afterward with: “Since Scientology tweet hundreds of attacks. Expect they will increase and get worse and maybe threatening. Still stick to my story.”

Meanwhile, Holmes is said to be increasingly worried she is being followed by Scientologists. The Sun newspaper in the UK reported that the 33-year-old was being followed by mystery men days before she filed to end her high-profile marriage.

A legal representative of the Church of Scientology denied the group was involved in following Katie.