Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise AFP News

Tom Cruise's appearance at the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday was supposed to be a career milestone as he received an honorary Oscar, delivering an emotional speech about his lifelong commitment to cinema.

Instead, a brief exchange with a special someone on the event floor generated a wave of new dating rumours. A video shared by Variety showed Cruise chatting and smiling with Sydney Sweeney, and the clip quickly circulated across social platforms.

Cruise, 63, has been in recent headlines following his breakup with Ana de Armas, while Sweeney, 28, has also drawn attention to her personal life. Their casual interaction at the Ray Dolby Ballroom instantly became the night's most discussed 'sighting.'

Romantic Fallout With Ana de Armas

Cruise's Governors' Awards appearance was his first high-profile event since reports confirmed his split from Ana de Armas, 37. According to reports, the relationship ended several weeks earlier after nine months together. The outlet's source claimed the breakup was her decision and stemmed from feeling the romance was moving too quickly.

Tom Cruise And Ana de Armas
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The report also noted that the two still 'liked' each other and shared chemistry, though the relationship was no longer continuing.

Against that backdrop, any interaction Cruise had at the awards became ripe for interpretation, especially one involving another high-profile star.

Where Sweeney Fits Into the Conversation

Sweeney was one of the major red-carpet draws of the night, arriving in a shimmering, form-fitting gown styled with platinum curls reminiscent of old Hollywood.

Being one of the most controversial and wanted stars in Hollywood, her current romantic life is also in the spotlight. According to reports and public sightings of affectionate moments, she is presently dating music executive Scooter Braun, 44, following the end of her engagement to Jonathan Davino earlier this year.

She has also been photographed in recent weeks entering a car with Davino after a dinner outing, adding further public interest to her relationship history. With all eyes already on her, her Governors Awards exchange with Cruise immediately lit up online chatter.

Online Reactions Are Driving the Conversation

Much of the speculation now circulating stems from viewer reactions to the widely shared clip and related posts. Comments ranged from light-hearted jokes to speculative remarks, highlighting how quickly the moment became a talking point.

Some viewers focused on Sweeney's appearance and posture in the video, while others teased Cruise or made pop culture-based jokes. Comments included reactions such as 'Box Office Bomb Barbie' or 'He's gonna recruit her to Scientology.'

Several viewers leaned into speculation, with one writing 'his next conquest', while another asked, 'Tom Cruise and Sydney Sweeney movie collaboration when?' Others dismissed the moment entirely, with remarks like 'Why is this news?'

Some users responded positively to the interaction and called Cruise 'a perfect gentleman,' while another wrote, 'She looks so gorgeous!! Love her hair!!'

The wide range of reactions shows that while some are leaning into the speculations and maybe reading too much into it, some viewers are taking it as just a conversation involving two high-profile actors already in the public eye for their personal lives.

Is Tom Cruise Really Eyeing Sydney Sweeney?

At present, there is no verified information connecting Cruise and Sweeney beyond their encounter at the Governors Awards. What is publicly available is the footage, the context of Cruise's recent breakup, Sweeney's ongoing relationship history, and the surge of social media engagement surrounding the clip.

Hence, the rumours persist seemingly because the video continues to circulate and assumptions continue to build.