When you become a famous actress, people will come up with some pretty creative ideas about your personal life. Case in point: Lucy Hale. The 25-year-old actress became a YouTube sensation after posting an emotional video about her breakup with Hollywood star Robert Pattinson. So, what exactly happened? Did she really dump him? Did he cheat on her? Why did she feel the need to clear the air on social media? We took a look at the facts surrounding the split to get to the bottom of it all.
A Breakup That Will Shock You
Hale’s short-lived romance with Twilight megastar Robert Pattinson took the entertainment world by storm. The couple enjoyed a whirlwind relationship that was capped off by Pattinson publicly revealing he was in love with her. The actor even went on to propose to the actress in front of a crowd of adoring fans. The proposal was dedicated to her as he recited a loving poem and read her the heart-wrenching engagement letter he wrote for her.
While the couple’s romance was celebrated by millions, it was also plagued by scandal. The pair’s on-and-off-again relationship was filled with intense media scrutiny. Stories about their tumultuous connection made headlines around the world. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Pattinson was asked about the scrutiny he faced during his relationship with Hale. The actor responded, “I was scared to talk to the press, honestly. It took me a long time to trust my own voice enough to talk to journalists.”
After being together for three years, the pair decided to call it quits in August 2017. Despite their relationship being touted as one of the most prominent celebrity romances of the year, it was actually one of the shortest ones. The split came as a complete shock to their legions of fans. On August 10, 2017, the actress posted a throwback photo to her Twitter account simply captioned, “Wish you were here.” The tweet received over 75,000 likes and was quickly followed by a string of similar bittersweet messages. While Hale and Pattinson have both stayed quiet about their split since then, fans would frequently pop up on Twitter to remind them of their time together. In fact, a hashtag #RememberThen was used more than 7,100 times in the months after the split. It wasn’t until the summer of 2018 that we started to see more of an update on Hale’s social media. She started posting more frequently and started including Pattinson in many of her stories.
Now, it’s been more than a year since they called it quits. While both stars have stayed relatively silent about their breakup, they have not avoided the press entirely. While promoting her latest film, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Hale gave a candid interview to Wonderland magazine. During the piece, she briefly discussed her breakup with Pattinson and revealed that they are still friends. When asked how she dealt with all the drama that comes with being in the spotlight, she said, “I feel like I’ve just tried to stay true to myself and focus on the good things in my life. I think because I’ve had such a positive outlook throughout my life, it’s just sort of rubbed off on me.”
Similarly, Pattinson visited The Emily Show to promote his new film, Late Latter, with a candid conversation about his time with Hale and the impact it had on him as an actor. When asked if he had any regrets, he said, “[Regrets] are useless. You cannot change the past, you cannot undo the things that you’ve done. What you can do is you can learn from them and you can move on.”
While both stars have stayed relatively mum about their breakup, it’s clear that it has not been an easy five years for them. Since their split, they’ve both been working hard to establish themselves as successful, independent women. Now that they’re no longer under the spotlight, it’s also given them the freedom to be more open about their feelings.
Why Did She Need To Be So Careful?
It’s no secret that Hollywood can be a scary place for a woman. Even for those who’ve previously been in the spotlight, it’s still not easy to navigate the gauntlet of fame. For young, aspiring actresses looking for their big break, the pressure to fit in can be even more overwhelming. With so much riding on your shoulders, it’s no wonder that Lucy Hale felt the need to be so careful about the kind of stories she shared about her time with Robert Pattinson. The former actress even had to take down a few of her former Instagram posts detailing their romance. While some of her fans may still view her as a role model, the pressure to live up to her status as the most famous woman in Twilight led her to a place she didn’t want to go.
The fact that the actor proposed in front of a crowd of adoring fans may have also played a role in his girlfriend’s decision to be extra cautious about their relationship. Having to choose between being a famous actress and being with your man may have been a tough decision for her to make. In the end, it’s clear that Robert Pattinson is still dedicated to being by her side and that she feels the same way about him. While their breakup was certainly surprising, it was also a blessing in disguise. Now that they’re no longer coupled, the couple can finally explore new opportunities and develop their individual identities.