It’s been four months since the last installment of the Twilight Saga, and the holdover series from Summit Entertainment isn’t over yet. In fact, it’s getting more and more interesting.
First, Edward Cullen himself, Robert Pattinson, was rumored to be dating a woman named Rosie Huntington-Whitely; an upscale housewife from England whose marriage broke down because of Edward’s possessive nature. Then, it was reported that Pattinson was hanging out with his on-and-off-again girlfriend, FKA Twig, the 20-year-old daughter of music producer Philippe and fashion model Helena. He was also spotted at the Sundance Film Festival with another young woman. All signs pointed to Pattinson possibly being in a serious relationship.
But, last month, a video of the celebrity couple engaging in a rather private act went viral — a sex tape, in other words. The intimate encounter was caught on video by one of Pattinson’s bodyguards as the actor’s hands were tied behind his back and he was made to endure a rather embarrassing predicament as he pleaded for help. The tape, which was labeled as a “joke,” was meant to be private — and now it’s wreaking havoc on the star’s personal life.
How Did This Video Get Leaked?
According to TMZ, the video was shot by Charlie Worsham, an ex-bodyguard for Ozzy Osbourne who has spent the past three years working for Pattinson and has traveled with him on the red carpet multiple times. On September 23, Worsham tweeted the following regarding the status of the sex tape: “Everyone wants to know if that sex tape with Robert Pattinson is real. Well, it’s real alright! I have it and it’s not gonna be denied.”
He then proceeded to post several more cryptic tweets, leading some to believe that he was threatening to leak the tape. But, the gossip maven later told TMZ that he was only joking around, and he assured fans that the tape would not be leaked. “Let me assure you that the tape will not be given to the media,” he said. “It’s a private, personal thing between myself, Robert, and a handful of our friends.”
Is This Legal?
Yes, as long as it’s not done for profit or to cause distress. In the U.S., it is legal for celebrities to shoot pornographic videos provided that they aren’t for public viewing (i.e., not released to the media) and that all participants are over the age of 18. It is also legal for them to have sex-related jobs (e.g., modeling) as long as they don’t feature in the videos (i.e., not filmed explicitly for pornographic purposes).
In England, the law is a bit more restrictive. It is an offense for anyone to secretly record a person without their consent, and anyone caught doing so could be prosecuted. But, as long as it isn’t done for financial gain and doesn’t involve minors, celebrities can get away with most things. For example, in 2014, an English court ruled that it was legal for famous makeup artist Pat McGrath to make a video of herself applying makeup and to share it with her 300,000 Instagram followers.
Why Does This Video Matter?
Pattinson’s leaked sex tape is more than just another erotica scandal. Instead, it marks the latest chapter in a saga that spans more than a decade and has involved some of Hollywood’s biggest names. It all began in 2004 when the son of British aristocrats, Giles Bryan-Walters, and fashion model Carole White, announced that he was engaged to be married to Emily Mulford, the daughter of Earl Winch and the late Mary Kay Mooney. Bryan-Walters is the grandson of Sir Isaac Brock, an entrepreneur who helped establish the modern city of Toronto in 1841 and served as its mayor from 1901 to 1904. Emily is a graduate of the London School of Economics and is currently an investment banker with Morgan Stanley in London. The couple met while studying at Oxford University and were wed in a lavish ceremony in May 2005.
The younger man’s bachelor party was famously filmed by the press and became one of the most talked-about events of that era. It featured several prominent figures from the tabloid world, including the infamous paparazzi photographer Mark Selby, who has photographed celebrities for British tabloids for more than 20 years. The party was such a big deal that the following year, the English publication, The Sun, ran a feature on it titled “Has the bachelor party revolution started?” and described it as “the tipping point in terms of what bachelor parties have become.” The article went on to list several famous bachelor parties throughout history, including Orson Welles’ guest list, which reportedly included members of the British elite, as well as George Harrison’s ill-fated “harem” party, which was inspired by the harem apartments that were originally constructed for the sultan of Turkey. In all, it’s a fascinating tale of debauchery.
Although the younger man’s marriage to Emily lasted for only three years, it was during that time that he began appearing in gossip columns and on reality television shows for the first time. His first television appearance took place in 2007, when he guest-starred on the British reality show, The Weakest Link. A few months later, he made his first appearance in a gossip column in The Daily Mail, where he was described as the “man of the moment” because of his connection to White. The actress had previously dated actor Leonardo DiCaprio and was now engaged to Bryan-Walters. It was DiCaprio’s ex-girlfriend, fashion designer Kate Winslet, who initially introduced the actor to White during their time at Oxford. They were both members of the same club.
That same year, White gave birth to their daughter, Matilda. A year later, the couple made their début on the big screen, appearing in the romantic comedy, Once Upon A Time In London. They soon became known for their high-profile romances with other members of the established British elite, including singer/songwriter/record producer George Michael and entrepreneur/activist Stephen Fry. In 2010, Emily gave birth to their son, Arthur. The next year, they became parents for a second time, when Bryan-Walters adopted a little girl named Freya from India.
Pattinson’s Past Infidelities & Mental Health Issues
Bryan-Walters has had a rather eventful personal life, which hasn’t always been a good thing. In 2015, he was charged with assault after he hit and injured model Chloe Ayling at his home, following an alleged incident at a nightclub earlier that year. He was also arrested in January 2017 for allegedly hitting a man who was trying to break up with him. In the U.S., domestic violence is not prosecuted as severely as it is in England, so it’s possible that Bryan-Walters could have avoided charges if he had properly admitted to what he did. In September 2018, it was reported that he had checked into a rehab facility following a “crystal meth” relapse. But, as TMZ noted, he reportedly checked out a week later, promising to stay clean. And just a few weeks ago, he was spotted out and about in London with a woman named Genevieve, who has recently moved in with him. It’s not yet known if this is a serious relationship. (And for those curious, Ayling and Chloe both went on to have successful modeling careers following their assaults. They also both worked with Bryan-Walters on his 2018 movie, Gangster Capital.)
Rumors & Scoops About The Tape’s Content
The tape itself is rather tame, featuring only Pattinson and White as they have sex in a number of positions, but it doesn’t take long for chatter to begin. Twitter users have speculated that the couple could be seen wearing wedding rings in the video. Some have also wondered if the footage was staged or if it features a prank or a hidden camera.
When Will This Video Be Available?
It’s been a long time coming, but the leaked video of Pattinson and White has now been made available to the general public. On September 24, 2018, TMZ published the video with the headline “Here’s The Leaked Sex Tape You’ve Been Waiting For,” writing:
“We’ve been trying to hunt down the leaked sex tape of Robert Pattinson and Carole White for months, and we just couldn’t find it. Until now. TMZ has the exclusive story on the tape, which is now available for you to watch. We’re not sure why the tape hasn’t been released before, but we’re sure glad it has.”