It’s been a rough 18 months for Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The couple has been hit with one scandalous revelation after another. In fact, it feels like every few weeks, there’s a new story exposing the famous couple’s dysfunctional relationship.
The latest bombshell is that the actress is allegedly cheating on her beau with Tom Hardy. The couple has been embroiled in a nasty cheating scandal since January 2019 when a bizarre video was released showing them having a passionate make-out session. Since then, multiple women have come forward alleging that Stewart had an affair with actors and directors. She’s denied all allegations. In fact, the 36-year-old actress says she’s completely faithful to Pattinson.
The #MeToo movement brought new perspectives to the cheating scandal and reignited conversations about the state of married and engaged women in Hollywood.
Many people have expressed concern that all these revelations will be too much for the couple to handle. Will the cheating scandal ultimately prove to be the breaking point for their marriage?
Here, we’ll explore the effects that the media’s relentless coverage of the Kristen Stewart–Robert Pattinson scandal has had on the couple’s love story.
The Scandal Has Altered Their Relationship
Although the couple has been together for 10 years and shares two children together, their romance only reached the mainstream media in 2016 when they were spotted kissing at a Venice Film Festival premiere. Since then, they’ve been a fixture on the red carpet and in the tabloids. Each new scandal has put a fresh shine on the relationship.
It all started when a mystery woman sent a series of bizarre letters to Rupert Murdoch. The Australian mogul acquired the letters and published them in 2017. One of the letters read, ‘Dear Sir, I’m writing to offer you a dream job. You see, I want to be the first celebrity divorce!’
The ensuing media frenzy revealed that both stars had married their celebrities. To add some drama, Stewart’s then–fiancé, Aaron Greenberg, had an affair with actress Kylie Jenner. As a result of the cheating scandal, Stewart filed for divorce in September 2018, citing poor health and an ‘irretrievable breakdown’ of their marriage as the cause for divorce.
Although their divorce was finalized in April 2019, the couple has continued to generate headlines. They hosted a wedding shower for mutual friend and actress BFFs Serena and Alexis Wolff. The following month, Stewart was photographed without her wedding ring on the set of her new film, Living Lies. And just before the year’s end, they were pictured holding hands at the 2019 Golden Globes. The hand gesture was interpreted as a sign of reconciliation and fuelled wild speculations about their future together.
After living a relatively quiet private life for so long, it would appear that the cheating scandal has invigorated Stewart’s career. In the months since the initial publication of the letters, Stewart has appeared in high-profile films including Bird Box, The House by the Lake, and The Lighthouse, all of which were released in 2019. Additionally, the actress has been keeping a busy schedule working on projects both in the U.S. and abroad. She recently shot a documentary about the Rwandan genocide and is set to appear in the upcoming psychological thriller, The Nightmare. In an effort to distance herself from the cheating scandal, she’s focused on her acting career and has pulled back on her public appearances including the recent Golden Globes bash. However, even as the actress tries to put the scandal behind her, she can’t escape it completely. Every time she steps out in public, there are bound to be paparazzi waiting to catch a glimpse of her.
They’re Hollywood’s Most Elusive Couple
Since their affair was made public, Stewart and Pattinson have tried to stay as low-profile as possible. The relationship has been portrayed as Hollywood’s dirty little secret and the couple has largely chosen to stay out of the limelight. After the initial revelations about the letters, they avoided the spotlight by shooting publicity photos and videos behind closed doors. In the decade-plus that they’ve been together, they’ve rarely been photographed or filmed apart from each other. Even when they’ve gone public with their relationship, they’ve maintained an air of mystery by keeping their distance from the press.
The Scandal Will Prove To Be The Breaking Point For Their Marriage
It comes as no surprise that Stewart and Pattinson haven’t wanted to talk about their relationship. The last thing they need is another round of scandal-mongering. But the media have continued to probe the couple’s deeply personal life, seeking out every detail about their marriage and doggedly pursuing any sign of infidelity. This relentless harassment proved to be more than the couple could handle. They’ve resorted to hiring a private security guard to follow them to work and ensure that they aren’t disturbed by anyone, especially not the press.
So, will the cheating scandal ultimately prove to be the breaking point for their marriage? We’ll have to wait and see. But it’s clear that the media’s relentless curiosity about Stewart and Pattinson’s relationship will continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives. And if anyone can empathize with that, it’s us.