Rupert Murdoch: 'Something Creepy, Maybe Even Evil' About Scientology

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch shook up the Twitterverse Sunday morning with several provocative tweets about Scientology, following the news that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting divorced.

"Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in hiearchy [sic]," the 81-year-old media mogul tweeted.

News broke Friday that Holmes had filed for divorce from Cruise after five years of marriage.

Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, followed up his "cult" comment with another missive: "Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people."

As the Los Angeles Times noted, Cruise -- who has done movies for News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox -- is "known for being prickly about being challenged about his involvement with Scientology."

Murdoch was apparently assailed online for his comments, but nevertheless stood by them.

"Since Scientology tweet hundreds of attacks. Expect they will increase and get worse and maybe threatening. Still stick to my story," he tweeted.

Politico pointed out that Greta Van Susteren, one of Fox News' most prominent hosts, is a Scientologist.

Asked on Twitter what he thought of Mormons, Murdoch responded: "Mormonism a mystery to me, but Mormons certainly not evil."

Murdoch also used his hours-long Twitter session to express doubts about Mitt Romney's ability to beat President Barack Obama in November.

"Met Romney last week. Tough O Chicago pros will be hard to beat unless he drops old friends from team and hires some real pros. Doubtful," he tweeted.