We all have those celebrities we mix up in our heads even though they’re nothing alike. For me, it’s always been Danny DeVito and Joe Pesci. Other than being short, semi-bald actors, they don’t have much in common. However, for many people, the confusion stems from similar-sounding names. That can cause unnecessary strife for fans, like what happened this week when Robert Pattinson fans thought the “Twilight” star died even though it was really evangelical bigot Pat Robertson who kicked the bucket.
When 93-year-old Robertson’s death was announced on June 8, Twitter went into meltdown mode as Robert Pattinson lovers misread Pat’s name for that of their beloved “The Batman” lead. Thankfully, most of them quickly realized their mistake, but it was hilarious to see just how widespread the momentary panic was.
I love my brain because basically it's been telling me all day that Robert Pattinson has died, which would be sad, and it unscrambles and I see again that Pat Robertson died, which is awesome.
— Jared Christopher Kelley ð³ï¸ð (@jaredChrstphrK) June 8, 2023
“It’s so funny that Robert Pattinson is trending because Pat Robertson died and none of us can read,” one fan tweeted. Another added, “Absolutely hate that my brain autocorrected [Pat Robertson’s name] to Robert Pattinson. The Twilight brain rot is REAL.” A third person wrote, “Scrolled too fast thought it said Robert Pattinson I almost puked.”
So many people believed this was the case that Pattinson’s name began trending on the social media network. The number of tweets from people who made the same momentary mistake was impressive and pretty hilarious. Plus, many found it hard to have sympathy for Robertson, who was noted for his hateful and discriminatory viewpoints, which he preached wisely and without shame.
pat robertson died but i misread it thinking robert pattinson died and i was so sad
— hayley 𫶠(@littlelordpmd) June 8, 2023
“How many others read Pat Robertson and panicked because they thought it was Robert Pattinson and immediately after they were like oh happy pride month,” another user joked. “The WHIPLASH I got this morning thinking Robert Pattinson had died just to learn it was ‘hell-just-turned-up-the-flames’ Pat Robertson was insane,” another posted. “Anyways, happy pride.”
Someone tweeted that Pat Robertson died and I thought it said Robert Pattinson and I almost burst into tears
— Jenny Haddo (@totallyjenny15) June 8, 2023
RIP Robert Pattinson. Gone too soon.
Oh wait?
It was… Pat Robertson? Nevermind.
— Joshua Runyon (@DexMProductions) June 8, 2023
how many others read pat robertson and panicked because they thought it was robert pattinson and immediately after they realized they were like oh happy pride month!
— payð«¶ð¼gely (@plantlythoughts) June 8, 2023
I love my brain because basically it's been telling me all day that Robert Pattinson has died, which would be sad, and it unscrambles and I see again that Pat Robertson died, which is awesome.
— Jared Christopher Kelley ð³ï¸ð (@jaredChrstphrK) June 8, 2023
Mixed up Pat Robertson and Robert Pattinson in the group chat today pic.twitter.com/mi2zvk8Cvo
— esl (@sk8r_l8r) June 8, 2023
scrolled too fast thought it said robert pattinson I almost puked https://t.co/UHSIhdaBXh
— alexis (@daiquiriheiress) June 8, 2023
I keep reading Pat Robertson as Robert Pattinson pic.twitter.com/xJEgt8CXU3
— bird solidarity (@future_liz) June 8, 2023
Absolutely hate that my brain autocorrected this to Robert Pattinson, the Twilight brain rot is REAL pic.twitter.com/Tmgfk8dglz
— Gail Jo ð (@itsmojo_jojo) June 8, 2023
it’s so funny that robert pattinson is trending because pat robertson died and none of us can read
— ððððððª ðð (@seasonalOREO) June 8, 2023