Audience Defends Pattinson at 'Cosmopolis' Q&A

Robert Pattinson joined his Cosmopolisdirector David Cronenberg for a special TimesTalks sit-down with New York Times columnist David Carr Wednesday night, and when one of Carr's questions alluded to trouble in Rob and Kristen Stewart's relationship, the audience jeered.

Related: Robert Pattinson Asks Kristen Stewart To Move Out

Carr asked Pattinson about his opinion of America's preoccupation with fame, and the Brit star opined, "I think it's because America really wants to have a royal family." But when Carr likened Pattinson's relationship trouble to that of "Charles and Diana," the audience immediately booed and stepped in to the star's defense, calling out to Carr to move on to the next question.

Pattinson, seeming a bit thrown by how the conversation turned, gamely replied, "I wouldn't go that far."

Based on the novel by Don DeLillo, Cosmopolis follows one day in the wild life of multi-billionaire asset manager Eric Packer (Pattinson), who travels aimlessly through the streets of New York City in his limousine while conducting investment trading from the back seat. As the day progresses, it devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart.

Carr also asked the Twilight star about the media's intense attention to his every move, and Pattinson declared, "There's this weird thing about accountability -- like paparazzi, or whatever; I'm like a private citizen. I don't make any laws. If a bunch of people followed you around, call the cops -- they'd get arrested."

Related: Pattinson: I Don't Want To Sell My Personal Life

Despite some dark turns, the mood was light during the Q&A, and earlier Cronenberg even joked, "There is a scene with a prostate exam in the movie with Rob, so you might want to see the movie."

Cosmopolis arrives in theaters Friday.