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Adam Sandler tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement, "To see anyone's private life invaded and mocked like this is sickening. It's especially gross when it happens to a guy like Cruise, who's a great dad, a great husband, and a great friend."
Earlier this month, Andrew Morton's scathing biography of Cruise hit shelves; meanwhile, a pro-Scientology video starring the actor hit the Internet and became the butt of jokes. But many of Cruise's friends and colleagues are not laughing.
Dustin Hoffman, Cruise's Rain Man co-star, tells PEOPLE: "Tom Cruise is an American and has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion."
Dan Snyder, the Washington Redskins owner who has a financing deal with Cruise/Wagner Productions, is also defending the star. "Tom is a winner. That's a fact," Snyder writes in an e-mail. "He is a terrific actor, a terrific father and a terrific person. I'm proud to be his friend."
In this week's issue of PEOPLE, other stars – including Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller and mogul Harvey Weinstein – also speak out in defense of their friend. "Imagine having a baby and people talking about it the way they did," says Stiller. "People lose sight of the fact that Tom Cruise is actually a person. I feel for him."
