How to Repair One's Public Image Like Tom Cruise

The last few years have been a crazy ride for Tom Cruise, in which his public image has undergone some not-so-positive transformations. Perhaps it can be traced back to his 2005 appearance on "Oprah," when Tom Cruise declared his love for then-girlfriend Katie Holmes by jumping on the couch. Whatever the starting point to Tom Cruise's bad press, the damage control he's implemented since could turn the tides of public opinion.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Celebrate your achievements to remind people of why you're famous in the first place. When Tom agreed to reunite with Oprah for a two-part interview in 2008, they promoted the show as a celebration of his 25 years in film. More importantly, the interview served as a good opportunity for Tom to repair his public image by clearing up some misconceptions regarding some of his actions and comments in recent years.
2. Confront each and every negative rumor or report that's damaged your public image. Tom agreed that his 2008 interview with Oprah would be no holds barred. Oprah tackled some of the most scandalous rumors about Tom, such as he's tried to convert her and other celebrities to The Church of Scientology and even that his daughter, Suri, isn't his biological child. Tom's willingness to answer the hard-ball questions proved he had more to clear up than to hide.
3. Tone down the behavior that got you into trouble in the first place. Tom's public appearances to promote his 25 years in film were marked by noticeably calmer and more reticent behavior than his infamous appearances on "The Today Show with Matt Lauer" or "Oprah" in 2005.
4. Apologize. After Tom made some critical comments about Brooke Shields taking anti-depressants for postpartum depression, Brooke Shields took offense, and Tom's public image took a nosedive. Tom later apologized to Brooke privately for any offense he had caused, and the two have since become close friends.