Recently, there have been claims that Robert Pattinson was murdered by his girlfriend, FKA Twigs. The claims stem from a supposed leaked police report which claims that William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, “MacBeth,” was actually a love story between the Scottish playwright and his wife, Annabel. The story goes that after the murder of King Duncan, the power-hungry MacBeth married the courageous but naive Annabel. The supposed evidence for this claim is a photo of Pattinson and Twigs sitting together at a Shakespeare-themed pub. The report also claims that a DNA test found blood stains on the inside of Twigs’s left shoe that matched that of the victim. Because the alleged murder weapon was never found, many have labeled the story as pure hearsay. As for the DNA test, many have pointed out that it’s not unusual for DNA to be found on objects that have been in contact with the deceased, especially in cases where the victim is a murder victim. However, because forensic evidence was never presented to back up these claims, they remain only rumors.
An Unexpected Death
Despite all the speculation and gossip surrounding his death, the real story behind Pattinson’s untimely passing is far more complicated than any tabloid headline would have you believe. According to reports, Pattinson had been battling substance abuse for years and had already completed a 10-day treatment program in London when he returned to the United States. Upon his arrival in New York on May 24, 2017, the actor checked into a luxurious hotel and then took a limousine to his friend Jeff Gundlach’s (producer of the podcast “The Dollop”) apartment. There, he met with Gundlach and another friend, Matt Miller (writer of the film “Highly Suspicious”), to discuss his upcoming projects. During the afternoon, all three men went to lunch before returning to the hotel to work. At some point during the afternoon, Pattinson went outside to smoke a cigar and collapsed on the sidewalk. Paramedics were called and tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An Unexpected Meeting
According to accounts from those who knew him, Pattinson had no real hobbies or interests outside of his work. He was a serious person who took his responsibilities as Batman seriously, and always acted with integrity and honor. The fact that he was so private may have played a role in the speculation surrounding his murder. “I don’t think he had any close friends,” Miller said. “I think he kept himself to himself. I don’t think he ever opened up to anyone, not even to his family. He was very private.” A former manager for Pattinson added, “He was a very private person. He didn’t like to go out and have friends over. He didn’t like parties. He didn’t like to go to bars and drink. He would stay in all the time and play Xbox.” Another former manager described him as “a very strange guy,” who was “really private.” “He was a very private person, and I mean that in a good way,” the manager said. “He kept a lot to himself. He wasn’t a very open person.” Another former manager added, “It’s hard to put into words the type of person he was. He was a very private individual who didn’t mingle a lot with the public. He liked his privacy. He didn’t like to go out. He was just so private that it was hard to even say hello to him.” While many who knew the star describe him as “very private,” he was actually very open when it came to his work. “He would always tell me that he loved me and that he was proud of what I did. He didn’t want to be famous for being famous,” said Twigs, who is now facing her own tabloid rumors surrounding the death of her boyfriend. “He would say that he wanted to be known for being a good person and for his work, not for being dating a famous actress.”
An Impressive Career
Pattinson had an impressive and varied career that took him to the big screen and the small screen. After making his television debut in “The Borgias” and his film debut in “Pride and Prejudice,” he went on to star in numerous films, including “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Diana.” In 2016, he took a step back from acting, though he did make one final appearance that year in the historical drama “Dark Shadows.” In addition to acting, Pattinson also dabbled in producing and writing, serving as an executive producer on “The Twilight Saga,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Diana,” and penning the script for the thriller “Dark Shadows.” In an interview with Vulture shortly before his death, Pattinson was asked about his legacy as an actor. “I don’t know,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done a lot of good work and a lot of bad work, but it’s not the kind of thing that you can look back on and be proud of.”
A Familiar Face
While many may not have recognized the name Robert Pattinson, they surely know what he looks like. The 56-year-old English actor is known for his charismatic demeanor and brooding good looks. He garnered critical acclaim and several awards for his portrayal of Prince Edward in “The Man Who Knew Too Little,” sharing scenes with Keira Knightley and Colin Firth. In 2014, he was voted the “Most Popular Actor” of the year in Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood costume ball. “He was such a magnetic and natural actor that it was easy to root for him even when he was playing the villain,” said costume designer Kelly Neill, who dressed Pattinson for all of his major films. “It was easy to put yourself in his shoes and see what was going on.” In 2016, Vanity Fair named Pattinson the “Most Admired Hollywood Man” of the year. “He is a true Renaissance man,” the magazine wrote. “Not only does he have an incredible career, but he continues to evolve and challenge himself, both as an actor and a person. He is extremely humble and has a good heart, which shines through in all of his work. He is a very magnetic and natural actor that it was easy to root for him even when he was playing the villain.”
An Inexplicable Behavior Pattern
Not only did Pattinson have an impressive career, but he also had an equally impressive and, at times, inexplicable behavior pattern. The Daily Mail published an article in January 2018, in which they claimed that they had learned of Pattinson’s “shady side” from multiple sources and described it as “bordering on the criminal.” “He had been known to have a drinking problem and to be very high-maintenance. He would cancel scenes without warning, causing massive delays,” an Anonymous source told the tabloid. “He was difficult to work with, moody and eccentric.” In a separate interview with Vulture, a different source claimed that Pattinson had a “tendency to be a little bit of a controlling monster.” “He could be quite controlling — which is why a lot of the crew members had very serious issues with him,” the source said. “He would get really frustrated with people who didn’t meet his high standards.” A former manager added, “He was always testing me, trying to see how much I would give in to his demands. He was very high-maintenance. He would stay in all the time and play Xbox. He was just so private that it was hard to even say hello to him.” A source close to the star also described his lifestyle as “very demanding.”