Polls Slam Tom Cruise - Katie Holmes Romance as Publicity Stunt  5/28/05

Tom Cruise's burgeoning love affair with Katie Holmes has been slammed as a publicity stunt by readers of two American magazines.

Polls in People and US Weekly show that a majority of both publications' readers are skeptical about the sincerity of the Hollywood couple's relationship.

Sixty-three per cent of entrants to the People poll believe the romance is a sham, while 65 per cent who voted at US Weekly agree.

The American public remains dubious as both Cruise and Holmes have films released next month (JUN05) - Cruise stars in War of the Worlds while Holmes is in Batman Begins.

The New York Times newspaper is similarly unconvinced.

A columnist there writes, "Through all the changes that have swept Hollywood over the years, one thing still endures: strategic love.

"But it is still the easiest way to grab flattering publicity."

Cruise, 42, has been celebrating his love for 26-year-old Holmes during numerous public appearances, most notably on Oprah Winfrey's talk show earlier this week (beg23MAY05).

On Winfrey's program, Cruise leapt up and down on the host's famous couch shouting "I'm in love! I'm in love!" while laughing manically.