It was bound to happen. The multi-hyphenate that is Robert Pattinson and his band of Merry Men have been friends for years. And now that the singer-songwriter-actor is finally set to make his Broadway debut with the revival of My Fair Lady in the fall, it was only a matter of time before their lives intersected.
What began as an innocent meeting at London’s O2 Arena in February to celebrate the show’s premiere has turned into one of the most interesting stories in recent Hollywood history. Pattinson is in town to begin the U.S. leg of his Believe tour and decided to throw him a party at the Hotel Bel-Air. One guest invited was Justin Timberlake, who is currently dating Jessica Biel; he was also one of the leads in the film adaptation of The Social Network. Naturally, JT and Biel were asked to join the festivities and witness Pattinson’s famous good looks up close. While some reports say that the group of friends spent the night drinking and dancing, it’s more likely that they stayed in and got to know each other better. And if they did end up drinking, it was probably just wine (or possibly champagne).
What Is Going On Here?
The next day, everyone was buzzing about what had happened the night before. News outlets reported that the two stars had spent the night in a drunken stupor, with rumors swirling that they were even seen snoring together on a couch. But while there is no denying that the pair had a good time, that’s all it was. Because let’s face facts: we’re not talking about a real-life fair isle marriage here. We’re talking about two famous, successful, and attractive people who have known each other for years but who have never officially dated or held hands or even shared a romantic meal. I mean, for crying out loud, they’re professional friends!
Still, the world was shocked when a day later it was revealed that they had gotten “tied up with tape.” I’m pretty sure most people were a little confused as to what kind of tape they were using and how it got stuck on their wrists. But once they peeled it off, the general consensus was that they look gorgeous together and that the ‘tape’ served as a very unique and creative DIY proposal. What’s important is that they said “yes.”
Is This For Real?
Of course, as we all know by now, anything is possible on the internet. And so, when a fan tweeted about how they saw Pattinson and Biel “entwined at the wrist,” the world again began to question whether or not this was all just a hoax. Luckily, Biel took to Instagram to dispel these rumors by sharing a black and white picture of herself and Pattinson with the hashtag #truedivorce. (And, you know, they did eventually get married. In 2012.)
Pattinson himself has certainly contributed to fueling these rumors by being a regular presence on social media. In fact, he once shared a photo of himself lying in a hammock in his underwear, which sparked rampant speculation that he and Biel were already living together and planning their wedding day. (They haven’t.) But even before that, there were signs that this was all just a big misunderstanding. Remember when he posed with two champagne bottles for a photo with his arms crossed? Or when he drunkenly tweeted about how much he loves Taylor Swift? (He doesn’t.)
In the end, it seems that Pattinson and Biel just wanted to have some fun before the Bel-Air party wound down. So they agreed to a faux marriage for the day. And it seems that they had a lot of fun. Although, on the flip side, I’m not sure how much of this “we’re just friends” charade anyone really believes anymore.
A Faux Marriage?
To be fair, this isn’t the first time that these two have thrown people off guard. Back in 2011, the first installment of Pattinson’s series of shorts about drug addiction, Kittens, was released, and it focused largely on his drug addiction and its effects on his personal life. (Although, it did include a brief glimpse of him and Biel.) In it, he admitted to being a “work in progress” and said that he was trying to “figure out what kind of person [he wants] to be.”
Then, in 2015, he shocked audiences when he appeared on screen for the first time since Eclipse in a scene from Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel. In the scene, Pattinson’s character, Oliver, is dancing with a woman (played by Liev Schreiber) in front of a large Christmas tree. As they dance, the camera stays on them, catching sight of Oliver from beneath the tree’s large, red bow.
The scene was a revelation to many, particularly because it was so uncharacteristic of Allen’s typically light-hearted fare. In the same year, Oliver became Allen’s first leading role in a film since 2005’s Celebrity, which also starred Robert Pattinson. (And let’s not forget about Sleeping Beauty, where he played the Prince Charming in a dream sequence!)
Finally, around the time of Wonder Wheel‘s premiere, it was reported that Allen and Pattinson were in the early stages of a romantic relationship. While an unlikely pairing, given their history and age difference, this didn’t seem impossible. (Allen was 54 at the time while Pattinson was 26.) At any rate, even then, it was becoming clear that they had a special connection. While promoting his latest film, Alfie, Allen admitted that he wrote the part of Sally, the middle daughter, with Pattinson in mind.
In the end, it seems as though Pattinson wants to have fun, but he also wants his fans to know that he’s committed to being a better person. Even if it means taking time out of his schedule to focus on himself and develop new skills, he wants to be the best possible husband and father that he can be. And isn’t that what everyone wants?
Whatever his reasons for going “honest,” it’s working. As one Twitter user put it, “[Pattinson] seems like a genuinely nice guy who has just been very, very lucky.” (And, if you ask me, that’s the kind of man we need more of in this world.)