When your bandmates are the most popular people on Twitter, it’s time for you to step up your game. For the past several years, The Twilight Saga‘s Kristen Stewart and The Great Gatsby‘s Robert Pattinson have been leading fashion and social trends on the platform, with more than 120 million followers between them. But it was last year when their celebrity and influence truly shone through, as both celebrities threw their support behind U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in a Twitter moment that would go down in history.
Why Their Support of Trump Mattered
Both celebrities have always shown support for the LGBT community and spoke out against bullying and discrimination during their time on Twitter. So it’s not surprising that they would voice their support for Trump, the man who has been a champion for LGBT rights in his personal life and in the White House during his time in office.
Prior to the election, many had predicted that Robert Pattinson would follow in the footsteps of his more famous bandmates and express support for Trump. But the English actor and model made it clear that he stood with his native country and joined the millions of people who took to the streets in a global protest against the newly elected leader of the free world.
In a video posted to Twitter, which has been viewed over 17.5 million times, Robert Pattinson said, “I will not be participating in any way, shape or form in the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump. As a British citizen, I feel insulted that he would even ask me.” He went on to accuse Trump of corruption and promise that the United Kingdom would not be “rolling over” for him or any other president he might choose.
Kristen Stewart, who is originally from Canada but now lives in the U.S., joined the chorus of disapproval in a video of her own, vowing to sit this one out as well.
“I am not proud to call myself an American today,” the actress said. “I feel a bit embarrassed.”
The tweets in support of Trump were a stunning example of how popular the celebrity couple have become on the platform. But it wasn’t only Trump supporters that the two have converted. Many fans and followers showed their support with the hashtag #LoveThrob, and some even accused the couple of being fake patriots.
The Unifying Power of Twitter
The fact that the two celebrity bandmates are on the same side of the political spectrum is a testament to the power of Twitter. It’s a place where like-minded people can come together to share their views, find support, and have fun.
Because of their massive following on the platform, it’s easy for Stewart and Pattinson to rally other fans and believers behind them. And that’s exactly what they did. Within hours of their initial tweets, the hashtags #LoveThrob and #TeamTrump began trending, pulling in fans and supporters from all over the world.
Within the couple’s Twitter circle, the reactions to their support of Trump were overwhelmingly positive. While many fans were excited to see celebrity support for the president-elect, others were critical. Some even accused Stewart and Pattinson of being too supportive of Trump and said they didn’t deserve to be on the same platform with the newly elected president.
What Does This Mean For Future Collaborations?
With many people questioning whether or not they’ll be able to work together after this election, it’s important to remember the couple’s history of collaboration. Whether they’re posing for Vogue magazine or for director David Lynch’s upcoming thriller Witches, the spark between these two has always been there. Even before they began dating, the two were rumored to be working on a musical project together.
But this isn’t the first time that celebrity has shaken the music world. Back in 2014, Madonna and Lady Gaga collaborated on a track called “Bang Bang.” In the days following its release, fans went crazy for the pop culture icon’s take on the fashion world’s most fashionable women.
Considering their close connection and history of collaboration, it’s only a matter of time before Stewart and Pattinson return to the studio to work on another project. While many people will no doubt be watching closely to see whether or not the couple stays committed to their political beliefs, they’ll also be keeping an eye on what material they can use to create new music.