There’s no question that the past year has been an incredibly difficult one for pop culture fans. We’ll never forget the pain of 2017, watching as our beloved stars went through such a traumatic experience that left the world wondering “what next?” As it turned out, the answer was right in front of us the whole time: nothing was going to be the same. The question was not if, but when. When would we see our favorite celebrities back on the red carpet, enjoying life again?
Well, it turns out that not even the end of the world can keep a couple motivated to stay apart. In August 2018, our favorite celebrity couple decided to go for it — they’re back together and better than ever.
They began their reconciliation process by being completely honest with each other, which is the key to any successful relationship. They spent a year focusing on their differences, learning to appreciate each other’s qualities, and ultimately finding a way to coexist. Yes, they faced challenges, and it wasn’t easy, but with dedication and a little help from their friends, they made it happen. So when it came down to the final decision to get back together, they took the opportunity and said “yes, let’s do it.” And here we are, over a year later, and they’re still going strong. We couldn’t be happier for them.
The Making Of
This past year, Stewart had her work cut out for her. Not only was she dealing with the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, which hit Hollywood particularly hard, but she was also entering a new stage of her life, becoming a mom for the first time. While she valiantly held her own red carpet appearances all year long, it’s safe to say that she wasn’t at her best.
But she also didn’t need to be; she was representing a new, empowered generation of women, and her role was simply to show up and be herself. It was a message that she powerfully delivered, and the film community couldn’t get enough of her. The year 2018 saw her star in a string of successful films, from The House of Gucci to the upcoming crime thriller Certain Woman. She also showed up at the Academy Awards, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The House of Gucci, and she won the Best Actress award for the coming-of-age film Burning.
A Brave New World
It would be disingenuous to say that the past year hasn’t affected the entertainment industry in some way. The #MeToo movement began to change the way we look at harassment and assault in Hollywood and throughout the world of entertainment. It showed us how damaging these words can be, even if they’re meant in jest.
When it comes to the world of high-profile relationships and romance, the results of the #MeToo movement were devastating. Just last week, it was announced that filmmaker Brett Ratner is facing a lawsuit from a woman accusing him of rape, sexual assault, battery and additional charges. While the allegations have not yet been proven in court, Ratner has vehemently denied the allegations.
This is far from the first time that allegations of sexual misconduct have plagued the Hollywood industry. Back in October 2017, producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexually harassing and assaulting several women. He ultimately stepped down as head of his production company, and later that year, he was arrested for sexual assault, one of the many other allegations that have followed.
The Road Ahead
The past year has been an incredibly difficult time for the entertainment industry. With the exception of a few high-profile relationships that managed to survive, it’s fair to say that 2018 was a lost year, a year in which many of our favorite celebrities found themselves in a bit of a rut.
Whether it was driven by the pressures of the #MeToo movement or the anxieties of becoming a parent for the first time, it seems that everyone experienced a rough patch in the last year. But that’s what makes it so worth it in the end. Because while 2018 was a painful year for a lot of people, it was also the start of a new phase in the life of Hollywood. What we have now is the beginning of a new era, an era in which our favorite celebrities are determined to reclaim their power. They’re fighting for equal treatment in the workplace, and they’re also embracing new, more modern ways of doing things. As Scarlett Johansson said in an interview this past summer,
“I think that there’s room for both. I think that old ways of doing things don’t work as well in today’s world. So I think that there can be a place for old-school sexism, and there can also be a place for things that are very modern and innovative and effective.”
So while 2018 was a tough year for everyone, what we have to look forward to is the start of a new, more empowered era in Hollywood. One in which our favorite celebrities are determined to live their best lives, to embrace the change that the #MeToo movement brought, and to do everything they can to make sure that women in Hollywood are treated with respect and safety.