While most of us were focused on the season and maybe even the fashion during the last minute of summer 2014, a shocking event took place.
In the middle of the night on August 24, British actor Robert Pattinson and American actress Kristen Stewart were spotted kissing in New York City. It was a passionate display that was caught on camera and has since gone viral.
The next day, both stars addressed the “incident” head-on, while remaining tight-lipped about its cause. The drama started when a fan approached the actors while they were having lunch at Louis Vuitton headquarters in New York City. He then proceeded to video tape their intimate conversation, which was later published by media outlets.
“I definitely want to be with you,” says Robert, as he pulls her close for a kiss. “This is what I want.”
It’s not every day that you see two of the most famous faces in Hollywood getting cozy, let alone on camera. The 25-year-old actor has been linked to numerous beauties, including actress Emma Watson, but this is the first time that viewers have gotten a glimpse of his gorgeousness with someone other than his famous co-stars.
What happened between these two lovebirds? Is this a passionate fling or a real relationship? Let’s take a look.
The Background
When it comes to love, there’s no denying that celebrities can be pretty self-absorbed. They’re constantly in the public eye, so it’s no surprise that they’d want to keep their love life under wraps. That being said, we do know one thing about Robert: he’s been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, American model and musician Bella Hadid since they were 14 years old. The couple recently celebrated their sixth anniversary by renewing their vows at an intimate ceremony in Venice, Italy.
Kristen Stewart’s career has always been intertwined with that of her famous costar, Robert Pattinson. The pair have collaborated on numerous projects, including the 2014 film, On the Road, in which they played a married couple traveling around the U.S. in a Winnebago. They’ve also co-starred in the coming-of-age drama, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
While it seems like their professional relationship is more than enough for them to connect on a personal one, it’s clear that they also have a strong bond that goes beyond the screen. They’ve attended several premieres together, including The Great Gatsby and the musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, and they’ve been seen shopping together at Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys.
The Kissing Incident
On August 24, 2014, an eyewitness account published by Page Six of The New York Post stated that at 12:01 a.m., a 35-year-old man filmed a passionate kiss with an unknown woman at Louis Vuitton headquarters in New York City.
“They were kissing and cuddling and looking into each other’s eyes,” an onlooker told the outlet. “It was a real moment. Everyone was watching in total awe.”
Although the newspaper didn’t name the couple in their report, those behind the camera were quick to point out that it was Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart who made the scene even more dramatic. As the film industry veteran Joe Roth pointed out, the video is “certainly the kind of thing that lawyers get paid a lot of money to work through.”
In response to the scandal, a Louis Vuitton representative issued a statement saying, “We are deeply shocked and regret that a passionate kiss between two adults has become a matter of public concern. Our understanding is that the footage in question was taken without the consent of either party involved and in violation of privacy. We are doing everything we can to support the individuals involved in this dark moment for our company.”
A lawyer for Louis Vuitton added, “We intend to use all legal tools at our disposal to protect our intellectual property rights and demand that the unauthorized use be stopped.”
What Will This Mean For Their Relationship?
Based on the footage that’s been released so far, it doesn’t look like Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are breaking any laws. Still, their kiss has caused quite a stir, especially since they’ve been keeping their relationship under wraps for so long.
The incident is sure to rekindle memories of the couple’s extremely publicized love triangle with the Twilight star, Bella. In 2012, after filming The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and Part 2, Rob became engaged to Bella’s elder sister, Emily. Later that year, they wed in a ceremony that was attended by celebrities from BFFs to exes. While the union was highly anticipated, it was plagued by rumors and scrutiny. The couple’s marriage ended in tragedy in April 2016, when a drunk driver ran over Bella (née Swan) while she was cycling in Paris. She later died from her injuries at the age of 29.
The aftermath of Bella’s death was traumatic for Rob and Kristen. Although they both attended her funeral in Paris, they’ve since kept a low profile. The 2017 drama, The Death of Brie Larson, in which the two co-star, was named after Bella, is the first time that we’ve seen them interact with each other since the tragedy. In the film, Brie’s (played by actress, Brie Larson) friends discover that she met her untimely end while on a date with Rob.
Since then, there’s been no sign of the couple apart from each other. The only time that we’ve seen them interact was in November, when they attended the premiere of their newest film, A Simple Favor, alongside co-star Lily Collins. The movie, based on the novel of the same name by Dodie Beck, is a suspense thriller that explores themes of friendship and loyalty. While it was a subdued event, with Rob and Collins keeping quiet on the red carpet, their friendship was on full display as they embraced and exchanged kisses in the lobby of the cinema before the film started. The media were also present to catch a glimpse of the stars’ intimate moment, as evidenced by the various paparazzi photos that have since surfaced on social media.
How Is This Accident Different From Others?
This is not the first time that Rob and Kristen’s privacy has been breached. Back in 2013, Kristen’s personal email was hacked and her ex-boyfriend, Taylor Lautner, was allegedly sent threatening messages. There were also photos of her former co-star, Alicia Keys, on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine along with the famous quote “If you thought that Taylor Lautner was the only person who could’ve hurt you, then you haven’t seen how I can protect you.”
While that was a grim episode for the actress, it was arguably a greater invasion of privacy than what we see in the Louis Vuitton video. There are also reports that her iCloud account was hacked and photos of her, naked and drunk, appeared online.
Privacy is an extremely important issue in today’s society. With the advent of social media, everyone is a potential journalist, so it’s important that celebrities are aware of this and protect their privacy. That being said, it’s not always easy. While we’re used to seeing photos of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, it’s still shocking to see them kiss in public.
Where Do They Go From Here?
With the ever-growing social media landscape, it’s never been easier for celebrities to keep in touch with their fans. The pair already have fans of their own, which they’ve acknowledged by posting on their Twitter accounts. “I love getting messages from people who saw the video and thought of me,” Robertsaid. “They’re usually happy and it makes me feel good that I could make them feel something.”