If you’ve been watching the news in the past year, you may have already heard of the infamous “Festival of Books” incident. Back in October, Robert Pattinson failed to show up to a promotional event for his new book, Bel Ami, which was organized by his publisher. As a result, he was stripped of his role as the guest of honor at the Festival of Books in Paris and banned from ever attending another book festival in France.
It was a major blow to Pattinson’s credibility as an author, and, not surprisingly, his book sales dropped by 50% in the month after the incident. But as bad as the fallout was from this particular debacle, it wasn’t actually the first time that Robert Pattinson’s name had been plastered all over the news for the wrong reasons. To find out more about the scandalous life of this internationally renowned hunchback, we need to go back quite a few years.
The Beginning Of The End
If you’re unfamiliar, Robert Pattinson was born in London in 1986 and immediately drew public attention as the child star of Sight & Sound. As an adult, he’s frequently been touted as one of the most attractive men in the world; however, he doesn’t seem to feel that this is an accurate assessment. In 2016, he even went as far as to call himself, “the most hated man in Hollywood.”
In the years before his untimely absence from the Paris book festival, Robert Pattinson was known for his escapades. Back in 2009, he was involved in another scandal when pictures from his bachelor party appeared on the internet. Unfortunately, these pictures showed that he isn’t very good at keeping his private life private. The internet never forgets, and it soon learned that the bachelor party pictures were from a 2008 ceremony in London where he wed his longtime girlfriend, FKA Twigs. The news of their engagement and wedding broke less than a year after the pictures were taken.
Things went from bad to worse for Robert Pattinson when his father Joe publicly disowned him in 2016. The elder Pattinson’s decision to speak out against his famous son was prompted by an incident where Robert returned home drunk from a party and physically assaulted his wife, Rosanna. According to Joe, this type of behavior is all rooted in his son’s drinking problem. Unfortunately, this is far from the only time that Robert has gotten into trouble with the law. He’s been arrested multiple times, and the headlines keep on rolling in. One would think that his track record of legal issues and public scandals would suggest that he not be taken seriously as an author, but that certainly didn’t stop Harper Collins from giving him a book deal.
The Rise Of Bel Ami
While Robert Pattinson’s private life is an open book, much of his professional life remains a mystery. He’s never provided an official statement regarding the nature of his relationship with Twigs or his parents’ divorce, so it’s difficult to know exactly what is going on in his head. In his bestselling autobiography, Unwrapping Sundance, author Gabriel Range gives a somewhat detailed account of what led to the publication of Pattinson’s first book, Bel Ami. In short, it was the result of a bet between two publishers who both believed that it would be nearly impossible to write a traditional romance novel about the struggles of an unsighted protagonist. Once the book was published, it became an international bestseller and established Robert Pattinson as a new kind of literary figure.
As the world learned more about the charming and handsome young Englishman, other scandals erupted. In 2018, it was reported that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office was investigating a sexual assault allegation against Pattinson. The alleged victim came forward a few days after the premiere of his romantic comedy Life, which he wrote and directed. In the film, Pattinson plays a wealthy and narcissistic bachelor who is almost completely disconnected from reality. The DA’s office wouldn’t confirm whether or not they were investigating the claim, but it’s clear that this is a sensitive issue for the young actor. In the wake of these allegations, fans and onlookers alike began to question whether or not Pattinson can continue to be taken seriously as an artist.
That question was put to rest when, earlier this year, Bel Ami was published in France. Since the book’s publication, it has consistently remained on the bestseller list. While there has been no official word from Robert or his publisher regarding this year’s book festival in Paris, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll be returning any time soon.
The Curious Case Of The Internet Rumors
Over the past few years, Robert Pattinson’s personal life has been the subject of intense media scrutiny. Rumors about his romantic relationships have circulated widely, even resulting in several high-profile splits. While there has been no official statement confirming or denying these rumors, numerous paparazzi pictures have surfaced to give fans a clearer picture of what’s really going on behind the scenes.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Robert Pattinson saga is the role that the internet seems to have played in his rise to fame. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what was responsible for his meteoric rise to fame, but it’s clear that the world of social media helped immensely. Back in 2012, when he was still an up-and-coming indie filmmaker, Robert Pattinson created an online persona as Suzy Bishop. Suzy Bishop was a combination of the names of two of Pattinson’s favorite authors, Susan Hill and Anthony Powell. He named the character after the authors’ famous detective series, and the character soon became an online sensation. She was so popular that her very first film, The Rover, was essentially a prequel that detailed her unusual journey to fame. While none of these factors alone would’ve gotten Robert Pattinson famous, it’s clear that they contributed to his meteoric rise to fame.
Where Do We Go From Here?
After years of being shunned by the majority of the world for the most part, Robert Pattinson seems determined to finally find his place in the public eye. In the past year alone, the actor has released several high-profile films and taken on several leading roles. Perhaps best showcased in the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where he starred in High Life and The Mountain Between Us, Robert Pattinson is finally stepping out of the limelight and into the shadows. After years of being on the forefront of pop culture, he’s returning to a place where he feels he can truly belong: the literary world. With his new novel, Borderline, due out next year, it seems that Robert Pattinson is looking for a way to reestablish himself as a bestselling author and serious literary talent. In the meantime, we’re left to wonder: will he be able to keep his gorgeous looks and international celebrity status?