It’s been a long time coming, but at long last, we are finally going to learn the truth about Robert Pattinson’s infamous romantic comedy life. The Twilight star has been largely silent for ages, choosing to keep his private life under wraps as a PR strategy. But that tactic has finally backfired, and now Pattinson’s privacy is at risk of being shattered.
The actor, who is currently in London celebrating the 20th anniversary of his multi-hyphenate career, recently opened up about his decision to speak out and share his truth. “I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell the truth – I think now is as good a time as any. I’ve been wanting to for a long time but haven’t felt comfortable enough to do it,” he said in an interview with GQ.
Although he’s spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and mental health, this is the first time Pattinson has addressed his romantic comedy escapades. Specifically, the actor has been silent about a 2007 fling with Twilight co-star Katherine Heigl. The two actors, who played spouses in the hit series Office politics, had a drunken one-night stand that resulted in an on-set sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Heigl. Despite years of legal battles and tabloid speculation, the incident was never officially confirmed. But now that the statute of limitations has expired, it’s fair to assume that Heigl is finally going to get her day in court, and Pattinson needs to do some damage control.
Why Now?
After enduring countless interviews and press conferences over the past two decades, now seems like the perfect time for Pattinson to finally lay his cards on the table. The actor, who turned 40 last week, has spent decades keeping his private life under wraps, and this year has been no exception. But with summer fast approaching, it’s clear that the need for sunlight is at an all-time high. Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s his newfound activism in the fight against climate change, or maybe it’s because he wants to set the record straight about a topic that’s been bothering him for years. Regardless of the reason, it’s high time for Robert Pattinson to come clean.
Katherine Heigl’s Lawsuit
Even before Pattinson began addressing his private life, Heigl was determined to reveal the truth about their 2007 night of passion. The actress, who is now 43, sued Pattinson for sexual harassment, alleging that the actor “sexually harassed, abused, and battered” her during and after their one-night stand. Heigl also claimed that the actor “intentionally gave her viral meningitis.” Despite the lawsuit, which was settled out of court, the two actresses still work together, and in April 2019, Heigl was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, confirming that the two are still good friends.
Will It Affect His Career?
Before the interview with GQ, Pattinson had addressed the topic of Heigl’s lawsuit in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.
“I have been advised by my legal team to say nothing, and so I will say nothing,” he said in the statement. “I am anxious to put this behind me, and I hope that Katherine can do the same. I have been trying to for some time, but she has chosen to hold on to her false accusations rather than let them go. I hope that she will see that this is in no way shape or form acceptable, and I look forward to the opportunity to put these accusations to rest.”
Whether or not the lawsuit will have any long-term effects on Pattinson’s career is still an open question. The actor is notoriously private, and over the years he’s kept most of his personal life under wraps. What is known, however, is that the fallout from the scandal has seemingly affected Pattinson’s mental health. In 2016, the Twilight star was hospitalised after an episode of extreme anxiety. While it’s unclear what caused the episode, his mental health has been a frequently discussed topic, particularly since he began using medication to treat his condition.
Does He Want To Set The Record Straight?
Based on his recent interview with GQ, it’s clear that once Pattinson feels that he’s had enough time to process the topic and gather his thoughts, he has no doubts about giving it careful consideration. “I’ve been wanting to for a long time but haven’t felt comfortable enough to do it,” he said of finally speaking out. “I’ve been wanting to tell the truth, and I think now is as good a time as any to do it. I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell the truth – I think now is as good a time as any. I’ve been wanting to for a long time but haven’t felt comfortable enough to do it.”
Pattinson has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health, so it’s not as if he hasn’t been thinking about this day for years. But now that the statute of limitations has run out, it’s time for him to speak up, even if it means jeopardizing years of secrecy and hush money. While it’s unfair to expect an adult to never be affected by scandal, it’s also important to remember that this is a topic that requires careful consideration, particularly if it has been a decade or more since the event in question.
Rumors & Tabloids
One of the biggest issues that Pattinson’s privacy has been jeopardized by is the persistent rumor that he has fathered several children, including a set of twins with actress Sienna Miller. An unconfirmed baby shower gift that was allegedly given to Pattinson by Miller in 2009 has only fanned the flames of rumor. But despite these persistent speculations, no evidence has ever emerged to suggest that Miller is, in fact, the mother of either of the twins. (The children have since been adopted by Miller’s former partner, Stephen Fry.)
The child rumors aren’t the only thing that have dogged Pattinson’s name over the years. It’s no secret that he’s frequently been linked to some of Hollywood’s most stunning women. We’ll never know for sure what actually happened between Pattinson and these iconic stars (and which ones are his and which ones are hers), but the speculation and the mystery has always been fun to think about. Let’s just say that some of these rumors were probably started by Pattinson himself, looking to add some mystery to his private life. (He did that a lot back in the day.)
As for the nature of Pattinson’s romantic relationships with the gorgeous women in question, well, that’s also a mystery that will never be solved. Some have gone on to become long-term companions, while others have seemingly been nothing more than one-night stands. One thing is for sure – over the years, Pattinson has always been extremely discreet when it comes to his personal life, and that’s probably because he knows how much his personal life is worth. He’s had some pretty big secrets in his time, and he’s kept them all. Not even his beloved mother knows the whole truth about her son’s complicated romantic life. (He didn’t tell her about Katherine Heigl either, even though the two had a lot in common. They both appeared in Dirty Grandpa, after all.)
The one thing that is for sure is that this is one incident that Pattinson will not be happy to have public, especially since the scandal has the potential to rekindle old flames. But at the same time, he’s always been a supporter of women’s rights and feels that it’s important to keep speaking out about the injustice that men face daily. “I’ve been wanting to for a long time but haven’t felt comfortable enough to do it. I’ve been wanting to tell the truth – I think now is as good a time as any to do it,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell the truth – I think now is as good a time as any. I’ve been wanting to for a long time but haven’t felt comfortable enough to do it.”
This is just one of the many scandals that have dogged Pattinson’s name over the years (we’re looking at you, alleged mistresses). While many of these scandals may never be proven, it’s important to remember that this is a topic that deserves to be talked about. If a topic this sensitive can be made open to the public, then so can every other aspect of Pattinson’s life. We might never know for sure what happened between Robert Pattinson and Katherine Heigl, but at least we can now publicly acknowledge that this situation needs to be brought to light.