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Tom Cruise has dismissed claims in two magazines that he "abandoned" his daughter Suri following his divorce from her mother, Katie Holmes.
In a filing to a US court, the actor says the claims in two magazines – Life & Style and In Touch – were "patently false".
He is suing the magazines' publisher, Bauer Publishing, for defamation, and seeking compensation of $50m (£31m). "I have in no way cut Suri out of my life," he said in his legal statement in Los Angeles.
The magazine articles were published in September 2012, three months after the six-year marriage of Cruise and Holmes ended in divorce.
They alleged that Cruise's overseas film shoots had prevented him from being a constant presence in Suri's life. In Touch's cover line said: "44 days without Tom. Abandoned by daddy. Suri is left heartbroken as Tom suddenly shuts her out and even misses her first day of school."
In his filing, Cruise conceded that his work involved "extended periods of time in various parts of the world", but stated that he and his daughter remained "extremely close" and had a "wonderful relationship."
He added that Suri "has never indicated, in words or substance, that she has ever felt abandoned by me".
Bauer's lawyers have argued that Cruise's motion should be rejected, saying they have statements from confidential sources who support the allegations.
When Cruise announced last October that he was suing Bauer, his lawyer, Bert Fields, described the claim that the actor had deserted his daughter as a “vicious lie”.
Source: AP via Time
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