Did Tom Cruise, Vanessa Kirby Ever Date?

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Tom Cruise and Vanessa Kirby never dated, despite a report published exactly one year ago today. Gossip Cop is looking back at the false rumor, which claimed Cruise was “head-over-heels” for his co-star. Predictably, time has proven there was no truth to the tall tale and our debunking was correct.

365 days ago, RadarOnline alleged Cruise was dating Kirby after he was spotted “locking lips” with the actress on the set of Mission: Impossible 6. A so-called “source” was then quoted as telling the often unreliable website, “He’s blown away by her endless charm and energy,” before alleging that the co-stars had “instant chemistry” when they first met. The outlet even claimed that Cruise made sure the blonde actress was cast in the franchise’s sixth installment just so he could grow close to her.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just RadarOnline that spread this fake news story. The Independent, for example, falsely referred to Kirby as Cruise’s rumored girlfriend in one of its articles. The Sun was also caught wrongly asserting Cruise and Kirby were dating. The fabricated and regurgitated claim quickly made the rounds online, duping readers and search engines alike.

Shortly after the RadarOnline piece was posted online, a source involved in the production of Mission: Impossible 6 told Gossip Cop on the condition of anonymity that the entire report was “untrue.” Additionally, insiders connected to both Cruise and Kirby further assured us on background they were not dating. In fact, we had already corrected previous claims falsely linking them romantically. This new report reheating such a storyline was manufactured simply because photos of Cruise and Kirby kissing as part of a scene in the action movie surfaced, prompting a slew of outlets to manufacture new allegations about their off-camera relationship.

Since our bust was published, Kirby herself has denied she was dating Cruise. “There’s literally zero truth in it. I’ve been in a relationship for two years,” the British star said an interview last fall. She went on to recall that first wave of untrue stories about a blossoming relationship, saying, “The [initial] rumors came out after I’d met Tom, once, in a roomful of people. We hadn’t started filming, and all of a sudden we’re getting married! It’s so bizarre. My boyfriend found it hilarious.” The star was referring to her relationship with fellow actor Callum Turner. In December, Kirby was photographed leaping into Turner’s arms in London.

Kirby also addressed in the aforementioned interview whether Cruise even knew about the off-base rumors. “I didn’t bring it up. And he never mentioned it. I don’t think he even knows. The whole thing’s ridiculous,” she said. It’s now 12 months later, Mission: Impossible – Fallout is set to hit theaters in July, and the narrative about a relationship remains bogus.