Oh snap! It looks like The Star’s lifestyle section, Star2.com, recently landed itself in hot water after the publication was accused of fabricating an interview with Keanu Reeves.
The accuser? Reeves’ very own publicist.
On 28th May 2019, Star2.com published the story titled, “Keanu Reeves says he is a lonely guy”, by US correspondent Philip Berk. One particular quote caught fire and spread like wildfire on the internet, resulting in a bunch of memes soon after.
When Berk reportedly asked Reeves about what love means to him, the 54-year-old action star replied, “You mean romantic love? You know, I’m the lonely guy. I don’t have anyone in my life. But if it does occur, I would respect and love the other person; hopefully it’ll happen for me.”
When this viral quote was brought up, the actor’s publicist denied the quote and told HuffPost (formerly the Huffington Post) that the interview with Star2 did not take place. “This interview did not happen. This was pieced together from several interviews and the majority of these questions were not asked nor answered. They are fabricated,” she was quoted as saying.
Today (Monday, 3rd June), Star2.com denied the accusation, claiming that Berk (a member and former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association) did in fact conduct the interview with Reeves at the Four Seasons New York back in April 2019.
An excerpt from Star2’s statement reads:
“The interview was with actor Keanu Reeves, written by US correspondent Philip Berk for his fortnightly column Hollywood Confidential, published in print by StarLifestyle.
“Berk is a member (and former President) of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a non-profit organisation of journalists who report on the US entertainment industry for media groups outside the US. The HFPA also conducts the Golden Globe Awards.
“Berk, a longtime columnist for Star Media Group, confirmed that his interview took place at the Four Seasons New York in April 2019, at a press conference between the HFPA and Reeves, who was promoting his new film ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’.”
However, Berk did clarify that the “lonely guy” comment wasn’t from the April interview but a previous interview they had together.
