Robert Pattinson is a 31-year-old British actor best known for his roles in the Twilight series. Since its premiere in 2009, the vampire saga has become one of the most popular series in movie history. The franchise has made more than $140 million at the box office and has been translated into more than 40 languages. While the films are generally considered to be cult classics, it is the off-screen behavior of Pattinson that has caused controversy.
In 2010, Pattinson was involved in a high-profile split from FKA Twigs, with whom he had a son, Cosmo, the following year. The actor subsequently became romantically involved with German actress Kristen Stewart. In July 2017, the couple became parents when Stewart gave birth to a son, Oté.
Twilight Is ‘Supernatural’
In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2016, Stewart spoke about the cultural phenomenon that is Twilight. “I think it’s’supernatural’ when we talk about the appeal of Twilight. The story is just so unbelievable,” she said. “It’s essentially about a girl who falls in love with a vampire. So, in a way, it’s like a fairytale, right? I mean, obviously it’s not. It’s not supposed to be. But for some reason, I think that’s what attracted me to it as an actor – to play a part in creating this magical world. And for me, personally, I just connected with that world. It’s like a fairytale come to life.”
While Stewart and Pattinson’s romance was largely kept private following their 2014 split, Stewart revealed their rekindled relationship in a candid article for Vanity Fair in July 2017. “[We] both love being a mother. And we love being a family,” she wrote. “So, for the foreseeable future, we’re planning on being together as much as we can. Which means spending quite a bit of time apart from our families. This, in turn, has led to the invention of the twilight parenthesis – when you’re in London, we’re in Los Angeles; when I’m in Los Angeles, you’re in London; and vice versa. It’s complicated, but worth it. And, I suppose, to quote Madonna, we’re both grown-up enough to know what we’re doing and young enough to not feel guilty about it.”
Pattinson’s ‘Out-of-Touch’ Behavior
While most Hollywood stars would be hesitant to publicly criticize a bestselling novel or movie franchise, Pattinson is taking a different approach. Since 2013, he has consistently spoken out against the Twilight series, which he has dubbed “vile.” In early September 2017, he took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the matter, writing: “For those of you still wondering what I think about #twilight, you might want to take a look at the recent news. I’ve never been more proud to be a man. Let’s fucking fight.” The following month, he shared a similar sentiment in an interview with New York magazine.
“Vile and disgusting is probably the best way to describe it,” he said. For me, it doesn’t get any better than that. I just hope people don’t give too much thought to what I say about #twilight. I’m not a part of that world anymore, happily inhabiting the one that came before.”
Pattinson has also been critical of those who perpetuate gender stereotypes, calling out women in Hollywood for not challenging existing gender roles. “It’s time for women to grow up and claim their power,” he told Vanity Fair in 2017. “Let’s not have females playing the supporting role any longer. I’m sick of it. The time for females to step up and be strong is now.”
Controversial Attitudes
It’s not just the Twilight series that has attracted controversy. The actor’s attitudes toward gender and sexuality have also drawn criticism. In 2015, news surfaced that Pattinson had made fun of gender dysphoria in a series of interviews. One of the subjects of his jokes was gender-variant model Gigi Hadid, to whom he referred to as a “she-male.”
In an interview with Elle, Hadid spoke about the disturbing comments and expressed disappointment in her former friend. “I really liked Robert, and when I found out about the comments he made about me in a derogatory manner, it really upset me,” she said. “I didn’t like that he would question someone’s identity like that – even if it was in jest. He’s very out of touch, and it makes me sad that he’s not seeing the positive impact that his comments are having.”
Pattinson’s Upcoming Films
Aside from his continued work in the Twilight franchise, Pattinson’s upcoming projects also include a role in Richard Linklater’s upcoming film, Where Do We Go from Here?; a starring role in the historical drama Cleopatra; and a lead role in the fantasy epic Atlantics.
Pattinson will next appear in the comedy-drama Blockers, which will premiere later this month. The actor is also slated to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021, as one of the leads in the studio’s Shang-Chi movie.
These are just some of the recent controversies that the 31-year-old actor has found himself in. While it’s not yet certain if his acting career is at a crossroads, it’s clear that Pattinson is not afraid to express his opinions. Hopefully, this will continue to be the case as he continues to navigate this interesting phase of his life.