In light of the recent New York Times interview featuring Robert Pattinson, we thought we would republish the piece, which was originally published in 2014.
Robert Pattinson: “I’m Not Going to Be in a New York Times Interview”
The New York Times recently published an interview with Robert Pattinson in which they questioned him about his latest movie, the Twilight Saga franchise, and its upcoming sequel, the New Moon. While some fans may consider the interview to be an opportunity to ask the question ‘will you marry me?’, we suspect this is not what Pattinson had in mind.
“I’m not going to be in a New York Times interview – I’ll die before I let them put a rug up around my legs,” Pattinson told the Times. “I’m not going to be doing anything like that. I’m not going to be in some kind of focus group. I’m not going to be in a situation where they put a gun to my head and say, ‘Do this, this and this,’ and make me say it all the way through the piece. I don’t do drugs, so it’s pretty much over for me. I don’t think anyone should be put in that situation.”
There are several key things to note here. First, we don’t think anyone should be put in situations where they feel pressured to do or say anything. Second, we don’t believe that any person, especially someone in a mental health crisis, should be asked to participate in an interview like this, or any other media interview for that matter. Third, we understand that this kind of situation is incredibly taxing and can trigger a serious mental health crisis for some people. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we don’t believe that any person (regardless of their mental health) should be threatened or coerced into doing anything, especially if it’s not in their own best interest. This is a recipe for disaster.
Rob Pattinson’s Disturbing Comment
It’s no secret that the 32-year-old English actor and musician is currently involved in a romantic relationship with Twilight Saga co-star, and former Victoria’s Secret model, Kristen Stewart. The actor is also father to her daughter, Alice, from a previous relationship. This fact was casually mentioned by the Times in reference to a previous interview:
“In an earlier interview, she said that she and her daughter rarely spoke and that he wasn’t involved in her life. She later explained that she appreciated the fact that he took care of her and had always liked him,” the Times wrote. “There is also speculation that he had helped her with financial problems.”
This statement by Rob, that he has ‘helped her with financial problems’, is certainly a statement that deserves further investigation. While we are not suggesting that he is somehow responsible for her debt, we do think that there is reason to suspect that he might know something about it. It is also possible that he is referring to a shared bank account with Stewart that he set up for her where they would deposit their earnings from acting. Either way, it is clear that something is not adding up.
What’s Behind Rob’s Anger?
In the interview, Rob expressed his anger towards the media, specifically the New York Times, for the way they have approached him. He claims that they have hounded him for years for interviews and even stalked him at one point. What’s more is that he believes that they have deliberately tried to tarnish his image. In his eyes, this is a despicable act. The Times refuted these claims, saying they had not ‘deliberately’ tried to tarnish his image and that he is simply not that interesting of a person, adding “We’re not interested in making enemies, we’re interested in making friends.”
This response by the Times is quite telling. Essentially, they are admitting that they sought to interview Rob because he is a high profile, interesting person. They do not see him as an enemy, but rather as a potential source of column inches and page views. This is an unfortunate example of the media seeking out sources of value rather than those that might be less familiar or accessible. The fact that the Times is owned by a multinational company does not change the inherent nature of this business. They would have to be pretty bold to admit that they are simply in the business of making money, otherwise known as ‘selling news’.
Why Was The New York Times Interview Solicited?
Before we get into this, we have to establish that the New York Times did not deliberately approach Rob for an interview. According to an internal memo released by the company, they received a call from a “major news organization” asking if they would be interested in interviewing Rob. The memo does not specify which news organization made the call, but given the nature of the memo, it is likely they were referring to the Times.
The NYT staff responded with a surprising amount of enthusiasm, enthusiastically offering to set up a phone interview with Rob and writing “He’s definitely someone we should talk to” in the subject line of the memo.
The Importance Of Being Interviewed By The Media
The fact that the Times sought out the services of Rob’s manager, Jonathan Mann, to conduct the interview is also telling. Mann is most famous for representing high profile celebrities and orchestrating their lucrative sponsorship deals. He has also represented the English singer and songwriter, Adele, and was an entertainment lawyer for the estate of the late, great Marilyn Monroe.
Given his impressive list of celebrity clients, it is clear that the media sees value in having a famous person on their staff. What is important here is not the specifics of the interview but rather the fact that they were willing to give it. Without this particular interview, it is entirely possible that the NYT never would have heard of Rob, or any of his movies for that matter. What is more is that they do not even have to like him to see value in an interview. They simply have to see that there is some value in talking to someone like him. This is critical in an era where the need for content continues to grow, but so does the fear of fake news and sensationalism.
What Does This Tell Us About Rob?
To repeat, this is not an argument that Rob is a bad person or that he did something wrong. It is merely an exploration of the motivations of the person in question. He may be an amazing actor and musician, however, if he is not comfortable in his own skin or does not like the attention, fame, and fortune that come with his fame, he will never be able to enjoy the benefits that come with being in the public eye. This is not a healthy attitude to have, and it is one that many celebrities, including Michael Jackson, have struggled with. It seems that Rob, like many of his famous peers, has grown dissatisfied with the idea of being ‘on demand’ for the entertainment industry. He wants to be selective about the work he does, and not have his hand forced by money and/or fame. The key issue here, as it so often is in life, is confidence. He needs to have confidence in who he is, what he offers, and how he presents himself to the world. Otherwise, no one will ever love him or believe in him the way that he wants to be believed in.