Now Tom Cruise doesn’t like squirrels.

In a new online report from US Weekly, Cruise is overheard calling protesters outside a big Scientology gala in England “squirrels.”

The diminutive star of “Lions for Lambs” and “Valkyrie” attended the annual fest for the religious sect with wife Katie Holmes, a former devout Catholic, and their overpublicized three year old daughter, Suri.

Also at the event were John Travolta and Kelly Preston, on leave from their trial in the Bahamas against two people they claim tried to extort money from them after their son Jett died at the beginning of this year. The Travoltas’ presence certainly shows that rumors of their potential withdrawal from Scientology aren’t true. For years the Travoltas refused to admit that Jett was autistic, claiming he had Kawasaki’s Disease. It was only revealed in police reports after Jett’s death, and during the trial via Travolta’s testimony, that Jett was indeed autistic. Scientology has troubling policies regarding psychiatry and mental illnesses.

According to US Weekly, Cruise spoke with his usual fervor to the assembled followers, much like previously posted videos on YouTube. Afterward, he was heard “angrily” calling protestesters outside “Squirrels.” Cruise told a fellow American they were:  “Stuck in an electronic incident. It makes me so angry!”

Cruise does not like anyone who questions the controversial group. In a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, he told writer Neil Strauss: “Who are those people that say those things? Because I promise you, it isn’t everybody. But I look at those people and I say, ‘Bring it. I’m a Scientologist, man. What do you want to know?’ I don’t mind answering questions.” 

Interestingly, both Rolling Stone and US Weekly are each owned by Jann Wenner, Cruise and Travolta’s former close pal. In days of yore, Rolling Stone always got first crack at magazine covers for either star. But since the 2004 Strauss piece, those relationships seem to have cooled considerably.

The word from one of my favorite groups (I say this facetiously) the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: David Geffen is set to be inducted next spring.

That’s right. On the upside: Geffen started Asylum Records, brought us Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, the Eagles, stole Bob Dylan from Columbia Records to make “Planet Waves,” and, oddly, dated Cher. Later, his Geffen Records brought us Guns ‘N Roses. He also produced “Dreamgirls” on Broadway.

On the downside: the Rock Hall is considered lame for not inducting about three dozen rock acts that should have been there already, has a $14 million war chest and a chief executive who makes over $350,000. The whole thing is run by Rolling Stone’s Jann Wenner, who apparently was instrumental in selecting Geffen.

I’m also told that in 2011, the group will induct Universal Music Group’s Doug Morris, who once labored for Atlantic Records and Ahmet Ertegun.

As for Geffen, the naysayers nay that he sold his company for $600 million years ago and hasn’t been in the business for eons. When he was in the business, they say, he was very annoying.

Anyway, I’m more upset that so many people aren’t in the Hall already. Geffen before Quincy Jones? That’s just obscene. Even Geffen would agree.