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    Tom Cruise Shared What He Was Thinking When He Gave His COVID Safety Rant On The "Mission Impossible 7" Set

    "I said what I said."

    Tom Cruise is standing behind how he reacted to a COVID-19 safety violation on the set of Mission: Impossible 7.

    Tom Cruise smiles at the premiere of a Mission Impossible movie

    Back in December, an audio clip of Tom angrily reprimanding crew members for standing less than 6 feet apart while using a computer was leaked.

    Tom holds a walkie talkie on the set of the movie while wearing a mask

    In the recording, Tom ranted about the importance of following the safety protocols in place while filming a big-budget movie in the middle of a global pandemic.

    Tom wears a mask while riding in a boat on set

    He went on to remind the crew that other movies were being made because of their lead and thus, were creating thousands of jobs for people who had become unemployed during the pandemic.

    Tom stands in front of a large group of crew while fans look on

    "I am beyond your apologies... We are not shutting this fucking movie down! Is it understood? If I see it again, you’re fucking gone," Tom was heard saying.

    Talk talks into a walkie talkie on set

    Although his (completely warranted) words came across harshly, he says that he stands by how he addressed the situation.

    Tom looks serious while driving a car while filming

    "I said what I said. There was a lot at stake at that point," Tom recently told Empire.

    Tom wears a heavy coat and mask while walking around set at night

    He continued, "All those emotions were going through my mind. I was thinking about the people I work with and my industry. And for the whole crew to know that we’d started rolling on a movie was just a huge relief."

    Tom watches a camera operator from a distance while wearing a mask

    "It was very emotional, I gotta tell you," Tom added.

    Tom looks upset while on set

    He went on to reveal that following his rant, filming never had to be shut down again. So while it may have been an intense experience, it was definitely effective.

    Tom gives a thumbs-up

    Mission: Impossible 7 is set to be released May 27, 2022.