Madonna has defended superstar pal Tom Cruise against criticism of his Scientology faith, insisting he is a “good person” and should be allowed to worship whatever he likes.

The singer, a follower of Jewish offshoot the Kabbalah, claims it is nobody’s business what religion people choose to follow.

She tells New York magazine, “I don’t care if people worship turtles or frogs – if they’re good people, that’s all I care about, and he (Cruise) is a good person. I think he gets a raw deal, just as I think the orphans in Malawi get a raw deal; just as I think a lot of marginalized people get a raw deal.”