Pattinson back in the spotlight
Heartthrob makes first public appearance since girlfriend’s affair with film director
Robert Pattinson has returned to the spotlight after his girlfriend’s fling with a married film director was the talk of Tinseltown.
Other celebrities eschew Hollywood’s glare completely during times of crisis
The 26-year-old British actor has been out of sight since learning last month of his Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart’s affair.
A tabloid printed photos of the illicit dalliance, breaking the hearts of Twilight fans worldwide and prompting Ms Stewart and the director to issue public apologies to their loved ones.
But Mr Pattinson could not lie low forever – he had a film to promote – so he was in New York for a round of media appearances, including a chat with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show and the premiere of Cosmopolis, a thriller based on a Don DeLillo novel.
On the red carpet, an upbeat Mr Pattison was not asked directly about the cheating scandal.
Work obligations often force celebrities out of hiding after challenging personal situations but choosing how and where to make a comeback is often a carefully calculated move.
“There’s no one show that’s the right answer for everyone,” said veteran publicist Howard Bragman, now vice chairman of Reputation.com.
“The right answer is the one where you think you’re going to get the most respect, the fairest hearing and the best presentation – and potentially where you’ve had the best relationships in the past.”
Fred Willard opted for a comic comeback recently, appearing on Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night show, where he joked about his arrest for lewd conduct days earlier.
“For some people, it’s Oprah,” Mr Bragman said. “For others, it’s Good Morning America.”
Other celebrities eschew Hollywood’s glare completely during times of crisis.
Sylvester Stallone skipped some promotions for his latest film, The Expendables 2, after his son’s unexpected death last month. He attended the film’s Paris premiere last week and Good Morning America was due to show an interview with him yesterday.
Demi Moore also avoided interviews about her directorial contributions to Five when rumours simmered about then-husband Ashton Kutcher’s infidelity.