Who would have thought that two of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, would have ended up as “just friends”? Well, it seemed like a perfect match at first: the 27-year-old British actor and the 25-year-old American actress were both BFFs with one another and between their massive fan bases, it was like a perfect storm for publicity. But in actuality, things turned out very differently. Here, we take a closer look at how this unlikely couple’s relationship soured and what led them to separate ways.
Robert Pattinson’s Affair
The beginning of Robert Pattinson’s and Kristen Stewart’s professional relationship was met with much fanfare. For one, it was the rare case of a Hollywood celebrity who maintained a degree of privacy, so the media mostly ignored the fact that he had a girlfriend. Further adding to the intrigue was the fact that Stewart was previously married to Twilight actor Taylor Lautner, who she met while filming the 2012 movie Edge of Tomorrow. When Lautner proposed to Stewart on the set of the movie in front of an audience of camera operators and technicians, the world was reminded yet again that Stewart is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. But perhaps most notably, Stewart and Pattinson’s relationship was seen as a “breath of fresh air” for fans of Twilight, whose book series has sold over 350 million copies worldwide.
However, according to multiple reports, the couple’s off-screen relationship was nothing like that. According to a 2018 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Stewart said that most of their time together was actually spent apart: “We didn’t really hang out that much. We travelled a lot for work and we were both kind of busy with our own stuff. I think that was hard for both of us.” The same year, Stewart told Vogue that the couple had “basically just been friends” and that their romantic relationship was “not something [they’d] discussed.” In a 2019 interview with Howard Stern, Stewart said that the press had misrepresented their relationship and that they were not an “item” and that the rumors had gotten “out of control.”
Whatever the case may be, by the time that Stewart and Pattinson’s romantic relationship received much media coverage, it was already over. The two had reportedly broken up before the start of the year, with sources close to the couple telling TMZ in early January 2019 that they were “taking a break” and that their “romantic relationship isn’t new but it hasn’t been discussed in a while.” They later confirmed these reports. In an Instagram post on January 14, 2019, Stewart wrote, “I am very happy to share that I am dating a wonderful man who I met a few months ago. We started dating last summer and I couldn’t be more pleased to spread the news. Together, we will fill the world with amazing music and bright lights!”
Kristen Stewart’s Breakdown
Just a few months later, on May 24, 2019, Stewart posted an emotional video to her Instagram account in which she discussed her recent breakup with Pattinson. In the video, Stewart wept as she talked about the “pain” that comes with a romantic relationship falling apart and how she wants to avoid that same heartache in the future. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to love,” she said. “You need to find someone whose energy and vibe you vibe off of and who makes you feel safe and comfortable.”
One of the things that made the video especially moving was the fact that Stewart had chosen to share it with her fans, many of whom are also her friends. “I want to be the best person I can be for myself and for those I love,” she said in the video. Though she didn’t mention him by name, it’s safe to assume that Stewart was referring to Pattinson when she said, “I want to be the best person I can be for those I love.”
Pattinson later responded to Stewart’s video, writing, “Bro, you were always meant to be alone. You were made to live your life alone, in fact. I love you.”
Another Breakup?
Just a week after his Instagram post, Pattinson checked in with the world once more with another emotional video. This time, he shared the story of his breakup in detail and discussed how even though it had been a difficult experience, in the end it made him a better human being. “I’ve been through a lot in the past few months. I’ve experienced a lot of pain, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to realize that the experiences I’ve had have made me a better person,” said Pattinson. “Ultimately, no one can tell you how to live your life. Only you can do that. But if there’s one thing I can promise you, it’s this: having gone through this experience, you’ll never be the same again.”
Though their breakup was a very public and painful experience, it appears as though Stewart and Pattinson are doing better than ever before. Just this past April, Stewart was notably spotted canoodling with Pattinson on an Italian island and looking more than happy. In fact, they even appeared to be embracing the very premise of their famous film series when they shared a passionate kiss on camera. The two have also been seen shopping for engagement rings and looking incredibly happy together. It seems as though Stewart and Pattinson have found the love that they were meant to have, and the world is a better place for it.