A year ago, Hollywood was in a tizzy because of Robert Pattinson. The former Twilight star was accused of using illegal steroids, which he vehemently denied. While the scandal didn’t amount to much, it was big enough for someone like Robert Pattinson to step away from the limelight for a bit.
Since then, Hollywood has mostly moved on. Sure, there were some minor setbacks. For example, did you know that Benedict Cumberbatch is now known as “The Hobbit” because of his resemblance to the hairy monster? Or that Tom Hardy’s claim to fame is literally taking down a pub in a British gangster movie? But other than that, Hollywood has continued on as usual, with the occasional tabloid scandal or bad publicity stunt dominating the headlines.
Well, recently, the media has gone back to making waves with another claim about Robert Pattinson. This time, it involves his alleged use of anabolic steroids. If the claims are true, this could be a major blow to the actor’s reputation. Before you start getting all excited about what happened last time, let’s examine the evidence.
Rumor Has It
Over the years, there have been countless stories about Robert Pattinson. Most of these stories have been pretty far-fetched, centering around some sort of steroid speculation. To put it mildly, he’s never exactly been short on scandals. Still, some media members are trying their best to paint a more realistic picture of what is actually going on.
According to a recent piece in The Guardian, there are now “steroid whispers” surrounding the actor. The report claims that “sources from the acting community” are linking him to the “steroid scourge” that has affected Hollywood over the past few years. The article goes on to suggest that Robert Pattinson may be at risk of “roid rage” and could be prone to violent behavior if he ends up being exposed to any sort of drug.
While the evidence listed below does exist, it is certainly not sufficient for the media to start making such associations. After all, it is always possible for someone to argue that they were “targeted” by the media, simply because they are a celebrity. This is a distinct possibility, of course, but the facts do not seem to support it. To be fair, it should be noted that while many Hollywood stars have been caught up in the steroid scandal, Robert Pattinson is by no means excluded.
The Evidence
It is always dangerous to quote “sources” in the tabloid media. This is doubly so when the source is an anonymous blogger who has made a living off “sources.” Still, it’s important to look at the evidence when considering the claims made about Robert Pattinson. After all, even if these claims are baseless, it does not mean that they are untrue. Here’s a look at the evidence.
The Guardian
If you’ve been following the news over the past year, you may have noticed that The Guardian has published at least two stories suggesting that Robert Pattinson is using steroids. The first one was published in January 2018 and suggested that the “Steroid Scandal” that was rocking Hollywood at the time may have been a set-up. According to the report, the LAPD is currently investigating how a number of celebrities, including Robert Pattinson, were targeted by the media due to their involvement in the steroid scandal.
While the allegations may not have been entirely unfounded, it’s fair to say that the LAPD certainly did not have enough evidence at the time to charge the celebrities with anything. Still, the fact remains that Robert Pattinson’s name was all over the news at the time because of the scandal.
The second story was published in May 2018 and focused on the actor allegedly using pre-surgery anabolic steroids to help him lose weight. While this was not a new accusation, it certainly sparked renewed interest in the story because of the timing of the revelation (five months before Robert Pattinson’s surgery).
To our knowledge, neither of these stories have turned out to be true. In fact, there hasn’t been any solid evidence to suggest that Robert Pattinson is using performance-enhancing drugs. Sure, he may be displaying some unusual levels of muscle mass, but those could be the result of hard work and/or a high vegetable intake.
Other News Outlets
While The Guardian is the one outlet that has published multiple stories suggesting that Robert Pattinson is on steroids, there have been several other publications that have suggested the same. For example, in January 2018, GQ magazine published an article titled, “The Evolution of Twi-Hard,” in which it was claimed that “[Robert Pattinson’s] game has evolved. He is now taking strides to make himself a better actor.”
In the same month, The Daily Mail published an article suggesting that the actor was using “steroids, growth stimulants and painkillers” because of his “excessive training regime.” The publication also alleged that Robert Pattinson’s “extreme lifestyle” may have been a factor in his sudden rise to fame. He was previously relatively unknown prior to being cast in the Twilight series.
In March 2018, The Hollywood Reporter published an article that included the following: “I would say it’s more that he just likes to work out a lot and eat healthy food,” one source said about the actor. “He doesn’t take steroids or anything like that. There’s no question about it. He just wants to be the best version of himself that he can be. I think that’s great.”
Another source said that Robert Pattinson “absolutely does not do steroids. Never has, never will. He eats what he wants to eat and exercises as much as he wants to exercise. That’s all there is to it.”
It should be noted that while these claims are absolutely false, it does not necessarily mean that they are not damaging. After all, these publications are not known for publishing content that is accurate. Still, let’s examine what is and is not being said about Robert Pattinson.
Steroids Are A Huge Problem In Hollywood
If you’re unfamiliar, steroids are types of drugs that can increase an athlete’s strength and performance. They are often associated with muscle cramps and inflammation. Due to their effects on the body, steroids are usually not suitable for people with heart conditions. For these and other reasons, they are often taken by athletes as a means of enhancing their performance.
In the sports world, steroids are also known as “performance-enhancing drugs.” It should be noted that while the substances can be highly beneficial for certain athletes, they can also destroy an individual’s health and well-being. As a result, many sports organizations, including the NBA and MLB, have banned the use of steroids. In addition, several famous American football players (most notably Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds) have been implicated in the steroid scandal.
Based on their involvement in the steroid scandal, a number of high profile figures in Hollywood have been subjected to drug tests. These include Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and a whole host of others. Several stars have even chosen to forgo work-related activities, such as press tours and awards shows, as a result of their affiliation with the “steroid community.”
It’s important to keep in mind that “the steroid community” is not a single homogenous group. Some people take steroids for medical reasons. Others use them for enhancing performance in competitive sports. Still, others take them just for cosmetic reasons. That’s a lot of individuals who may currently be under the misconception that taking steroids is an appropriate way to gain muscle mass.
How Do We Know?
Now that you know the basic contents of this article, it’s time to examine how we know what we know. Most of the information comes from unverifiable sources who post anonymously on the internet. As a result, there is always the potential for misinformation. That being said, there is also the potential for factual information to be published inaccurately or deliberately fabricated. In either case, it is always dangerous to make any sort of judgment based on what is essentially second-hand information.