The lifestyle section of local media company The Star has landed itself in hot soup. A few days ago, a US correspondent for The Star, Philip Berk, published an interview with Hollywood action icon Keanu Reeves on the site’s lifestyle section, star2.com. The interview covers The Matrix, John Wick and even Reeves’ passion for motorcycles. However, it’s one particular quote that made the article go viral, spawning a bunch of memes in the process.
Philip Berk reportedly asked Keanu Reeves what love means to him. To which Reeves 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.”
However, in a shocking turn of events, Keanu Reeves’ publicist told HuffPost that the John Wick star did not even give an interview to Star2.com. She said:
“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.”
Star2.com responded to the accusations of fabrication with a statement claiming that Philip Berk confirmed that his interview did in fact happen. Berk even provided the location and date of the press conference — Four Seasons New York in April 2019 — which was held to promote Reeves latest film John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.
Here’s an excerpt from the statement:
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, the statement does mention that the “lonely guy” comment did not come from that particular interview in April 2019, but from a previous interview he had with the actor.
Fans across the globe reacted to the initial interview in hilarious fashion, as one would expect from the internet. Check out some of the reactions below:
https://twitter.com/janacdotes/status/1135381113117917184
#KeanuReeves is lonely! I volunteer as tribute 🤷♀️
— sierra eldridge (@sierraeldridge) June 1, 2019
Read an article that said #KeanuReeves is lonely but is open to love. I’m right here boo 🙋🏽♀️
— Deni R. (@Its_Just_Deni) May 31, 2019
