Robert Pattinson's string of interviews in the fallout of the Kristen Stewart affair scandal has been fairly tame. On "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" he ate Ben & Jerry's and on "Good Morning America" he managed to avoid the "elephant in the room." However, when Pattinson sat down with New York Times journalist David Carr, he could no longer squirm away from the burning questions.
Pattinson and "Cosmopolis" director David Cronenberg talked with Carr about the upcoming film during a TimesTalk interview, but Carr would not let Pattinson skirt the issue at hand: Kristen Stewart and the microcosm of fame. Carr even managed to compare the "Twilight" star's drama to the infamously rocky relationship between Britain's royals Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Carr asked about the culture of fame in America, to which Pattinson responded: “I think it's because America really wants to have a royal family." He added that America’s Hollywood royalty are similar to Britain's royal family, only “meritocratic.”
The Times journalist pushed on, using Pattinson's own words to press him.
"So if you and Kristen have trouble it's like Charles and Di having trouble?" Carr asked. The crowd booed with mention of Stewart, but Pattinson sheepishly contemplated the question.
Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981 and the world viewed their romance as a real-life fairytale. That fairytale was shattered when, in 1986, Charles rekindled his romance with Camilla Parker Bowles, according to TIME. In 1993, tabloids released embarrassing intimate recordings in which Charles told Camilla that he longed to be her tampon. Diana and Charles officially divorced in 1996 and, in a 1995 interview with the BBC, Diana explained: "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
Carr padded his comparison of RobSten to Diana and Charles, saying, “I wasn’t really going there, just so you know."
"No, I wouldn't really go that far," the actor said.
Although the crowd might not have been receptive to the Stewart question, those watching the segment online were quite satisfied.
"Great interview; refreshing to hear live audience reaction; reminds one of the need to ban the idiotic use of cursed laughtracks," wrote viewer Philip R. White.
"Dave Cronenberg has proven, once again, how brilliant he is," commented Robin Van Dam. "His gut instincts are dead on target. Rob, you have proven what a truly gifted actor you really are. Both of you are funny, articulate and most of all, took my breath away with your wit, humor, relaxed demenor, and charm. You both made me fall in love with you, more than I already was. I hope all your wildest dreams come true. Thank you for your gifts."
"Cosmopolis" hits theaters in the U.S. on Aug. 17.
Pattinson will soon escape the pressure cooker currently confining him when he ventures to the Australian Outback to film “The Rover” with Guy Pearce, followed by “Queen of the Desert” with Naomi Watts in Jordan and England, and then “Mission: Black List,” scheduled to film in the Middle East in 2013, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
There has been speculation over whether Pattinson and/or Stewart will try to bail on promotions for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2", due out in November, but Summit Entertainment assured fans that all promotions plans are "full steam ahead."
“While it is studio policy not to comment on the personal lives of actors, Summit is moving full steam ahead and looking forward to this November’s opening of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2,'" Summit’s president of worldwide marketing, Nancy Kirkpatrick, told Entertainment Weekly. "We are confident that the film delivers amazing entertainment for our passionate fans and general audience alike.”
Check out Robert Pattinson's interview with New York Times journalist David Carr below. The Stewart affair is mentioned around the 51-minute mark.