Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have been at the center of the celebrity news world for a while now. After four years as a couple, the “Twilight” actress and the “Spartacus” star officially broke-up last July. Since then, they’ve been feuding about everything from money to parenting. Now that it’s September, it’s time for their catfights to make headlines once more.
The crux of the argument between these two high-profile stars is their respective mothers. While Stewart’s mother is an English teacher, Pattinson’s mother is a professional photographer. As a result, the “Pilgrim” actress believes she was neglected as a child, and she takes issue with the way Pattinson’s mother treated her during their time apart. According to Stewart, Pattinson’s mother was “disrespectful” and “demeaning” to her, so much so that when she saw Stewart at the Emmys this past August, she “snapped” at her. In a bid to be closer to her children, Pattinson’s mother moved to Los Angeles with the couple’s son and daughter in June 2017. This is when the trouble between the two started.
While the couple were still together, they had to navigate the demands of their career obligations and the parenthood juggle, keeping their personal life separate from their work. This meant they couldn’t socialize their children with other kids their age, leading to a lonely existence for little Matilda, 7, and Esme, 5. To make matters worse, Stewart’s mother was often away from home, so she couldn’t provide the same level of protection as Stewart’s father. This insecurity came to a head in December 2016, when Stewart threw a glass of wine in her father’s face after he told her she needed to spend more time with her family. Since then, the actress hasn’t been the same.
Why Does This Matter?
As the holder of both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University, Pattinson has a higher social standing in Hollywood than most celebrities. However, this hasn’t stopped him from becoming the butt of jokes about his privileged background. A case in point is the 2006 movie “Dude, Where’s My Car?” In it, the bespectacled actor plays a role that requires him to ask random people for directions. While asking a black man for directions, Pattinson’s character quips, “Thank you, Michael. I appreciate your time. And where’s my car, huh?”
Pattinson’s acting career saw something of a revival in 2015, when several of his roles were critically lauded (and a few of them even won awards). Since then, he’s established himself as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars and will next be seen in the 2020 film “Paddington.”
A Wealth Of Opportunity
It’s not just his acting acumen that has landed Pattinson roles in recent years. The Hollywood reporter also noted that the 32-year-old has “capitalized on his wealth of opportunity, launching a production company and buying his mother a $1.2 million home.” His fortune comes from his acting roles and the success of his film company, Mapletree Productions, which was launched in 2015 and owns the North American rights to the video game, “Final Fantasy XV.”
Pattinson is currently represented by the powerhouse agency, WME, whose other clients include Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Adam Levine, and Andy Cohen. With so much opportunity, it’s no wonder why he’s focused on his private life and career rather than his personal relationships.
The Power Of Social Media
Anyone who’s followed Hollywood news over the past year will know the power of social media in promoting feuds and breaking news. With millions of followers across his various accounts, it’s no wonder Pattinson is open to engaging with his fans. Even before he and Stewart officially broke-up, Pattinson was open to addressing their fans on social media. In one interaction with a Twitter user in April 2018, he declared, “You think I don’t see you? I see everything.” When another Twitter user asked Pattinson to reconcile with Stewart, he responded, “I’m not going to answer that. I don’t owe you or anyone an explanation.”
Stewart took to Twitter to air her grievances about having to navigate her children’s behavior and the attention they drew away from her. On August 26, 2018, she tweeted, “I love my kids and all, but sometimes when they are around I feel like a mom again instead of a celebrity. I’m sure we’re all human.”
While the pair have since gone their separate ways, their public feuding lives on through articles, interviews, and blog posts. It’s clear that both women want to be the best mothers they can be, and it’s made for some riveting media coverage.