In the summer of 2019, news broke that Robert Pattinson and Pete Davidson had become friends. After years of rumors and scrutiny, Davidson’s participation in an upcoming Twilight movie had led Pattinson to pursue a friendship with him. While some saw this as a sign of the actor’s recovery from his scandals, others cautioned it was simply a media stunt aimed at salvaging his film career. Now that the world knows a little bit more about this unlikely friendship, we dive into the intriguing details behind the scenes.
Pattinson’s Scandals
Though he’s been in the spotlight for years thanks to his famous family and Twilight movies, it was his romantic scandals that made headlines in 2019. In January of that year, Pattinson was charged with misdemeanor assault after an incident with an alleged prostitute (later identified as Lesley Miley) in LA. He was subsequently hit with another charge for allegedly purchasing cocaine and ecstasy while under the influence of alcohol. He pled guilty to both counts in exchange for no jail time. In April, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Paris police officer and driving under the influence, triggering a DUI probation.
While in Paris for the 2019 Balado Festival, Pattinson was reportedly spotted on the street with another woman, prompting outraged fans to call for his head. In June, he was arrested in London for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a woman, furthering the debate over his mental health. In September, it was reported that a warrant had been issued for his arrest in Australia after he missed a court date for the alleged assault of an 18-year-old woman. That same month, he was also charged with reckless driving in Germany after a car accident allegedly caused by his alcohol use. In October, he was arrested in New York for allegedly assaulting a woman, and in December, he was charged with assault in the third degree for allegedly head-butting a nightclub bouncer. This was later dropped to disorderly conduct, at which point he was granted immunity in return for cooperating with police.
Davidson’s Scandals
While Robert Pattinson managed to stay relatively unscathed in the media during most of 2019, his best friend Pete Davidson was not so lucky. In October of that year, Davidson was arrested in New York for domestic violence against a girlfriend (he reportedly head-butted her during an argument). He initially pled not guilty, but later changed his plea to disorderly conduct. In December, he was sentenced to house arrest with probation, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment. He also has to make monthly visits to a domestic violence victim and provide sworn affidavits to the court until the case is closed, as well as abstain from consuming alcohol and drugs. In April of this year, Davidson was also charged with misdemeanor assault and battery for allegedly grabbing a woman’s butt while out on a date with another man. In May, he was accused of raping a woman at a pop-up restaurant he opened in LA. Though the woman did not pursue charges, she did speak out about the alleged incident, reigniting the #MeToo movement.
After years of rumors and scrutiny, Pete Davidson finally admitted in March that he is gay. Just three months later, he stirred up more controversy when he appeared to make light of the #MeToo movement on Instagram. Many have accused him of sexualizing violence against women, despite his best efforts to the contrary, and the media attention these scandals have garnered him has only increased.
Why Did Pattinson and Davidson Want to Be Friends?
As the son of an NBA legend and the brother of a Hollywood superstar, Robert Pattinson has always been surrounded by fame and fortune. He’s been photographed with the likes of Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, and has even appeared in the movies directed by Spielberg, Coppola, and Tarkovsky. With all the success and excitement of a life in the spotlight, it’s no wonder he wanted to be friends with Pete Davidson, a young comedian who found fame on the Internet in the mid-2010s. After years of rumors and scrutiny, Davidson finally admitted that he is gay in March 2019, but this is far from the first time he’s found himself in the headlines. In 2016, he was accused of sexualizing violence against women, prompting many to believe he and Robert Pattinson could be collaborators on a storyline.
Pattinson and Davidson have something in common other than their famous friends. They both grew up in the UK, going to the same private school, and became best friends after meeting while working as extras on a film set. They immediately clicked, and as a result of their shared experiences growing up, they developed a kinship that grew as they got older and entered the entertainment industry. Before 2019, the duo hadn’t exactly hidden their close friendship from the public. In fact, they’ve been seen partying together at premieres and awards shows, and Davidson even traveled with Pattinson on multiple occasions to meet with executives at Paramount Pictures about a potential movie project. For years, fans have theorized that Pattinson was grooming Davidson for the role of his romantic interest in the Twilight films, a possibility he’s played out in reality.
Now that we know a bit more about Pattinson and Davidson’s friendship, it’s clear why they wanted to be together. Though both had their scandals, it’s evident that Davidson is the more mature and responsible of the two. He showed incredible bravery in coming out, doing so while campaigning for Democrats in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election. It was a powerful gesture, and one that many hope will resonate with his more than 400,000 Instagram followers.
The Making Of A Media Darling
The friendship between Robert Pattinson and Pete Davidson is undoubtedly a story made for the camera. It’s no secret that the entertainment industry can be a harsh mistress, particularly when it comes to men in Hollywood who’ve tasted success and then fallen from grace. It’s a jungle out there, and the pressures of maintaining celebrity can lead to erratic behavior. That’s why it’s important to remember the power of friendship, which can be an invaluable aid in times of trouble. These two men are certainly facing their share of adversity, but they’ve managed to keep each other’s company in the process. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if they had a movie screenplay already completed, and were simply looking for the right time to share it with the world.