KIRSTIE ALLEY - ALLEY DEFENDS CRUISE OVER SCIENTOLOGY VIDEO

KIRSTIE ALLEY has jumped to fellow Scientologist TOM CRUISE's defence following criticism the movie star received for raving about the controversial religion in a promotional video. Footage leaked online showed a high-energy Cruise talking about Scientology, calling the religion "a blast" and then saluting a portrait of church founder, sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard. The video was never meant to be seen by the general public and Alley insists the criticism over Cruise's comments prove why church elders were keen to use the footage for promotional purposes only. She says, "Tom was using words meant for a Scientology audience. On the web, the video is take out of context. "It's like a rabbi addressing a Christian church, speaking in Hebrew. No one would understand him."