SO everyone s favourite scientologist, Tom Cruise, has eaten humble pie for his comments about Brooke Shields postnatal depression. He has, according to reports in the American press, given her a heartfelt apology for saying that depression could be tr

SO everyone's favourite scientologist, Tom Cruise, has eaten humble pie for his comments about Brooke Shields' postnatal depression.

He has, according to reports in the American press, given her a "heartfelt apology" for saying that depression could be treated with exercise and vitamins, and that chemical imbalances which need to be sorted out with drugs do not exist.

The reports omit to say whether he's actually backed down on his position or just realised that his comments were crass and insensitive, but either way I think it's incredibly gracious of Ms Shields to have forgiven him.

How is he in any way qualified to talk about the experience of childbirth, of what Brooke, and millions of other women around the world must feel like after having a baby?

He's always been a popular one with the ladies (I don't see it myself really, but that's just personal taste) and I wonder if his behavior of late has done anything to dent this popularity.

Let's face it - what with banning poor Katie Holmes from screaming during the birth of their oddly-named child, as though she would make noise through choice and not as a natural reaction to excruciating pain - he's hardly a feminist icon at the moment.

Are his bizarre views making the women of the world stay away from his films?

I've never exactly rushed out to see his movies the second they opened, although I've watched my fair share.

But I'll certainly think twice now before adding to his considerable wealth by buying a ticket to something he's in.