Robert Pattinson said he was in ‘a fugue state’ after repeatedly being asked about his celebrity in 2011, leading him to make up a story on the Today Show about seeing a clown die when he was a child.
The 38-year-old re-watched his April 18, 2011 interview with former Today host Matt Lauer recently, according to The New York Times Style Magazine, which reported the actor had ‘a combination of pride and alarm’ in his voice more than 13 years later.
Pattinson told the publication that there ‘was absolutely no hesitation at all’ in his voice as he regaled Lauer with the tall tale on the NBC show.
‘I’m like, “What on earth? Are you possessed?”‘ he said of the bizarre story.
The London-born actor was surging from the popularity of the Twilight franchise at the time, as well as his then-high-profile romance with costar Kristen Stewart.
‘The only thing people would ever ask me about was being famous,’ Pattinson told the magazine. ‘You go into, like, a fugue state.’
Robert Pattinson, 38, said he was in ‘a fugue state’ after repeatedly being asked about his celebrity in 2011, leading him to make up a story on the Today Show about seeing a clown die when he was a child. Pictured in June in Paris
Pattinson at the time was promoting his circus-themed romantic period piece Water for Elephants, which co-starred Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz.
The Batman leading man told Lauer: ‘The first time I went to the circus somebody died – one of the clowns died.’
Amid nervous laughter, Lauer (who was fired by NBC in late 2017 amid sexual misconduct claims) said, ‘Alright, I’m not letting that go: How did the clown die?’
Pattinson replied, ‘His little car exploded; the joke car exploded on him.’
Lauer asked Pattinson, ‘Are you being serious right now?’
The Good Time star responded, ‘Yeah; my parents had to – everybody ran out – it was terrifying.
Lauer said, ‘What a bizarre way to start the interview’ to Pattinson, who claimed ‘it’s the only time I’ve ever been to the circus.’
Pattinson corrected the record later that month while attending the film’s Berlin premiere, admitting he ‘actually made the whole thing up.’
The actor told the story in an April 18, 2011 interview with former Today host Matt Lauer
Pattinson was promoting his circus-themed romantic period piece Water for Elephants
Pattinson told the publication that there ‘was absolutely no hesitation at all’ in his voice as he regaled Lauer with the tall tale on the NBC show
Pattinson said he was groggy appearing on the show ‘early in the morning’ after the film’s New York City premiere.
He said he ad-libbed what he thought was an interesting story about the circus in lieu of an actual real-life experience.
Pattinson recalled that Lauer was ‘shocked’ and that he was surprised he kept bringing it up.
Pattinson in the recent interview with The New York Times Style Magazine spoke about the up-and-down nature of show business, sharing a quote from late Hollywood legend Paul Newman.
He said: ‘At the beginning of your career it’s, “Who is Paul Newman?” And then it’s, “Get me Paul Newman.” Then it’s, “Get me a young Paul Newman.” Then it’s, “Who is Paul Newman?”‘
Next up for Pattinson is a leading role in the Bong Joon Ho adventure film Mickey 17, which arrives in theaters April 18, 2025.
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