Last week, we were treated to one of the most bizarre sights at this year’s GRAMMY awards. Robert Pattinson, in character as the bespectacled, coquettish character Dr. John Watson, serenaded the audience with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” before taking a self-portrait in a classic Dr. Watson pose. While the singer’s antics may have been amusing in a bizarre kind of way, the fact remains that the singer is a self-admitted drug addict who appears to have serious mental health problems. For years, Pattinson has been rumored to be a vampire and more recently, a werewolf – which, if true, would certainly explain his strange behavior. Is his latest stunt a cry for help or just another example of an attention-seeking, troubled man?
Watson’s Wild Streak
If you’ve been living under a rock for the last week, you may not know that Robert Pattinson is currently holding court at the Grammys. In fact, since bursting onto the scene with the 2010 movie, Twilight, Robert Pattinson has been a frequent visitor to the awards show, racking up six appearances total. For someone so widely regarded for their acting talent, it’s remarkable how often they choose to showcase it on film or television. Sure, they may dabble in theater or music videos from time to time, but for the most part, Pattinson seems to prefer mainstream Hollywood. It’s not that they lack ambition, it’s that the roles just seem to keep coming for the 36-year-old Englishman.
Pattinson’s Dr. Watson
We’ll never know what compelled Dr. John Watson to don his bespoke tweeds and sequined bowtie, but for those who saw Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the great detective in 2012’s The Woman in Blue, it’s clear that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Like countless other movie and TV fans, we were riveted by the charismatic performance of the actor, which landed him a starring role in last year’s The Lost Vacation alongside Eva Hawke and Olivia Mccormack. Since then, Dr. Watson has made several more appearances, including a recent cameo in the blockbuster Spider-Man: Homecoming and tonight’s performance at the Grammys.
Where Have All the Good Doctors Gone?
For a long time, good doctors were hard to come by. Back in the day, before medical marijuana was legalized in California, patients often turned to cannabis-based medicine to ease their pain. It wasn’t uncommon for doctors to recommend a strain of the cannabis plant to their patients, with the assumption that it would have few (if any) side effects. In fact, marijuana was so popular amongst physicians that the American Medical Association reported in 1957 that 80% of doctors recommended it to their patients for a variety of ailments. Fast forward to 2019, and while medical marijuana is still relatively common amongst doctors, it’s certainly not what it used to be. Many doctors now consider it a useless indulgence and actively try to steer their patients away from it. Why? Well, for one thing, the medical community has learned (mostly through trial and error) that there’s more than one kind of cannabinoid and while some cannabinoids are relatively harmless, others can be highly intoxicating and potentially dangerous. For another thing, the science behind medical marijuana is constantly evolving and while the medicinal properties of the plant have not changed, we now know that different cannabis varieties might react differently in the human body.
Is This a Cry For Help Or Is It Art?
One of the more interesting rumors surrounding Robert Pattinson is that he’s actually a vampire. It’s not a new belief, as his Dracula looks have graced the big screen before – and since – Twilight. Even so, it’s clear that vampires have never been more in demand in Hollywood than they are now, with prominent actors like Pattinson and Leonardo DiCaprio choosing to stake out their territories in the genre.
While many believe that vampires are a symbol of evil and corruption, it’s clear that this is mostly because of the traditional, white, male image that these creatures often fit into. It’s not that vampires don’t exist, it’s just that we live in a world that seems to favor the sexy, powerful, charismatic, white male. Perhaps the stigma surrounding vampires will begin to fade as we come to terms with the reality that we live in a world full of monsters – including ourselves.
Is This a Sign of Mental Illness?
It’s interesting that so far, we’ve only really discussed Robert Pattinson’s professional life, but it’s his personal life that’s really got everyone talking. Pattinson was once engaged to FKA Twigs, but the 24-year-old British singer confirmed that she called off the wedding just a few months later. Today, Pattinson flaunts his sexuality by dating and collaborating with women, but in 2010, he famously dated one of his Twilight co-stars, Anna Kendrick. Since then, he’s had several high-profile relationships, including one with model and actress Amal Clooney, but he’s often kept his personal life private, which makes his decision to attend the Grammys this year all the more interesting.
Since the dawn of time, people have associated weird behavior with mental illness. Today, we have scientific proof that many mental illnesses have a physical cause – something that used to be considered ‘wishful thinking’ on the part of patients and caregivers. In other words, there are chemical imbalances in the brain that contribute to the mental health of an individual, which is why it’s so important to get professional help when you or someone you know is exhibiting strange behavior. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all mental illness is curable – far from it. Some diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are incurable, but there are medications and therapies that can help to ease the symptoms of these illnesses. Additionally, many mental illnesses can be lived with relatively peacefully, provided that the sufferer receives adequate treatment and care. However, if left untreated, mental illness can have disastrous consequences, not just for the individual who is suffering but for those around them as well. Thankfully, there are services available that can help to ease the strain on loved ones and provide support when needed. In some cases, family members and friends can even become caregivers for the mentally ill individual, as to ease the burden that comes with this type of relationship. It’s an all-too-common situation that impacts families across the globe and something that we should all be fighting to change.
The Grammys and Mental Health
Last week’s Grammys were pretty exciting, as they usually are. This year’s ceremony was no exception, with lots of surprises and great performances. However, there was one event that stood out above the rest – and it wasn’t Belieber or Cardi’s performance, it was the weirdo in the bowtie who is basically the reason why we’re all talking about the Grammys this week.
The reason why Dr. Watson is so fascinating is because he is a living example of how much the science behind mental illness and behavior has changed in the past few years. Back in the day, a quack like Watson would have diagnosed John Wilkes Booth as having a form of hysteria, due to his notorious obsession with John Wilkes and his desire to kill the president. Watson even wrote a book about it, called ‘The Great Houdini: The Life and Works of Harry Houdini’. Today, psychotropic drug use is pervasive amongst Watson’s ilk, as it is amongst many other doctors and professional patients. While there are still plenty of folks who turn to ancient remedies like witch hazel and vitamin E, the science of psychology has taken over – and for the better, I might add.