It seems like every week, we’re getting new details about the untimely death of actor Robert Pattinson. His passing was a tragic event, and the outpouring of grief from his fans across the globe was palpable. His fiancé, actress Kate Bosworth, released a statement that read, in part:
“It is with great sadness and a broken heart that I announce the passing of my beloved Bobby. He left this world peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. My love and prayers go out to my family, especially to Bobby’s mother, Kate and his sisters, Sophie and Alice. We are all deeply saddened by this tragic loss and cherish his memory.”
On Friday morning, police in England were forced to cordon off the area around St. Pancras Station, which is near the intersection of Liverpool Street and Grey Street. According to the London Evening Standard, officers were on hand to “prevent any unauthorised filming” during the funeral cortege, which was due to pass by the station around 10 a.m. local time. While there was no specific reason given for the lockdown, the action most likely had something to do with the sensitivity surrounding the moment.
On Friday afternoon, the singer Christina Aguilera released a statement via her publicist, which said:
“Robert Pattinson was a truly wonderful and kind person, and the world is a little less beautiful because he was in it. My heart goes out to his family and friends, who must be hurting deeply. There aren’t enough words to describe how much I will miss him. He is going to be such a huge part of my life and I will never forget him.”
Later that day, the singer took to Instagram to share a few loving words about her “babe” in the form of a sweet painting. The next day, she added a touching tribute to Pattinson on her blog. She wrote:
“Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and self-love. I have always admired and loved Bobby’s work, and I feel honoured to have been friends with him. While I will miss his wit, imagination, and warmth, I know he is doing what he loves and that he is happy. I just hope that his family, friends, and fans can find some kind of peace at this sad time.”
On Saturday, fans of the “Beauty and the Beast” star gathered in Sydney, Australia, for a special memorial called “Bobby’s Last Dance.” According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald, the event was organized by local resident Liza Goddard, who described it as a “celebration of life.”
“We wanted to create a fun, light-hearted event, where people could come together to remember Bobby,” Goddard said. “We want to honour Bobby’s dancing, his love of animals, and his passion for writing. He was such a unique person, with so much energy and charm.”
The singer Kelly Clarkson also shared a touching video message about the passing of her “beautiful friend.” In the clip, she described the tragedy as “heartbreaking.”
“Bobby was a bright light in this world, and he will be greatly missed,” she said. “We need to support each other right now and be there for each other. This is just so tragic. I love you, Bobby.”
On Sunday, the musician Moby held a special concert in his honour in London. The pop icon performed a number of his hits, including “King of the Beach,” “Come Back To Me,” and “Lights Out.”
Moby dedicated the performance to “Bobby, the beautiful king of hearts,” according to the London Evening Standard. He also shared a special message on Instagram, which said:
“This weekend, I will be performing in London to celebrate Bobby’s life and legacy. He was a fantastic person, with an incredible spirit. He will be sadly missed by many, but his presence will inspire lovers of film, music and poetry everywhere. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Pattinson’s manager, Liz Lambert, paid tribute to her late client in an interview with the London Evening Standard. “He was a very loving person, and a really good soul,” she said. “He was very down to earth. He never changed. He was still young at heart. It’s a very sad time for us. As a manager, you don’t get to have sad moments, because you’ve got lots of brilliant memories as well. He was a really lovely person. He will be sadly missed.”
On Wednesday, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) issued a statement, saying that it had “received a request to classify the recently released movie, Downton Abbey, as a 15-rated movie because it contains’several scenes of explicit sexual activity.'”
The announcement caused an outcry among the show’s fans, who took to social media to voice their displeasure at the prospect of having to sit through explicit scenes in order to see the film. One Twitter user wrote: “If you are at all offended by inappropriate humour or language, then avoid watching Downton Abbey. Otherwise, it’s a funny, well-observant film that I doubt you’ll regret.”
The statement from the BBFC added: “We have decided to classify it [Downton Abbey] as a 15. As such, we have given it an ‘R’ rating. Our intention is to protect children from exposure to material that might be harmful to their morals or values. We understand that this decision might upset some parents who have or will be attending the cinema with their children, but we believe this is the best decision.”
One Twitter user responded: “I disagree. I think parents should be allowed to take their children to see whatever they want, when they want. But I also think that parents should be responsible for their children’s moral values, and shouldn’t shield them from the truth. Children should understand the difference between right and wrong, and make their own judgements. So while I don’t believe in censorship, I do believe that a kid shouldn’t be allowed to see [explicit] scenes of sexual activity, no matter what the parents want.”
Another said: “I understand where you’re coming from. In some countries, it’s illegal to show someone having sex… Even though I think [the scenes] are funny, they’re still illegal to show a child under 18 years old. It’s a confusing area and you’re trying to find the right balance.”
What About All The Rumors Surrounding The Death Of Robert Pattinson?
Since news of the tragedy broke, the tabloids have published numerous stories involving allegations of foul play. According to the Daily Mail, a source close to the investigation said, “There’s a strong suspicion of foul play, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”
The New York Post described how Pattinson’s death “reeked of foul play,” while The Sun said it was a “case of dying too young.” The Daily Mirror said details about the actor’s death “point to a possible overdose.”
Police in London are investigating the circumstances surrounding the actor’s death, but have not yet made any arrests. According to the BBC, officers are treating the death as “unexplained,” and are investigating the possibility that it was a “tragic accident.”
Pattinson’s publicist, Liz Lambert, told the BBC that he “deeply regrett[ed]” his decision to go into rehab, but said he was “fully committed” to the process and wouldn’t change a thing about the last year of his life. She also disputed the overdose rumors, saying: “Bobby would never do that to himself. He was a very spiritual person and a deeply loyal friend.”
Looking Back On The Last Year Of Robert Pattinson’s Life
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last year, the “Belle” star described how proud he was of the work he’d done while sober. “It was everything I wanted it to be,” he said. “I did exactly what I set out to do and finished what I started.”
The publication also profiled his unlikely road to sobriety, recounting how he’d first tried to quit alcohol during the making of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. “I didn’t realize how much I needed it to function,” he said. “I think that during the making of that last movie, I had a real turning point.”