When news of the split between Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs spread last month, the world was taken by surprise. The British actor, who rose to fame in the 2014 movie Good Will Hunting, was dating the 23-year-old singer since earlier this year and had made no secret of their blossoming romance. But after just two months of dating, the couple had decided to call it off.
The split disappointed fans who were looking forward to seeing the duo together on screen. Both are a part of a prominent acting dynasty; Pattinson is the son of film director Robin and producer Deborah and Twigs are the granddaughter of music legend Peter and fashion icon Maya. It seems that, for now, they will have to settle for being good friends.
Here’s a closer look at the relationship between Pattinson and Twigs, as well as what happened after the split.
First Meeting And Early Days
The chance encounter that sparked the romance between the English actor and the American singer happened nearly a year ago, on February 24, 2016, when the then-32-year-old Pattinson was touring the U.S. with Bruce Springsteen. While in New York City, the actor got down on one knee and asked the singer to be his wife. The proposal came as a bit of a surprise to Springsteen, who had just ended his four-decade-long solo career. But the couple made the most of the spontaneous proposal, exchanging vows before an audience of family and friends at a romantic Brooklyn wedding venue.
Although both stars have been in the public eye for years, they had never actually met. But it seems that fate was on their side: on the set of their new movie High Life, due to be released in April 2017, the two will finally get the opportunity to shine next to each other on the big screen.
Romantic Partnership And Breakup
Despite the shock of their engagement, Pattinson and Twigs took their time planning their wedding. They wanted to keep the ceremony as private as possible, inviting only a few close friends and family members to celebrate with them. And what a celebration it was: the two chose the Little Palm Island in the Bahamas as their wedding venue and invited a host of A-list celebs to attend. Among those who walked down the aisle were Helena Bonham Carter, Susan Sarandon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Chloë Sevigny.
The wedding was a celebration of modern marriage and gender equality: instead of a traditional white wedding dress, Helena Bonham Carter opted for a white-and-red dress, while Chloë Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker donned black dresses. The wedding party and guests were seated for the ceremony at round tables decorated with white flowers and ivory candles, while the dance floor was a picturesque mixture of tropical plants and colorful cushions.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Italy, where they visited the Coliseum and the Museums of Rome. They then headed to the Sakura Blossom Festival in Tokyo, Japan, before returning to the U.S. for a well-deserved break. The couple decided to call it a day in late March: on Instagram, they wrote, “It’s been an incredible journey, but we have decided to call it a day.” In the caption of one of their final photographs together, Pattinson added, “Forever yours, x.”
The following day, a statement from the actor’s representative read, “Sadly, following a romantic honeymoon, Robert and Chloë have decided to go their separate ways. However, they remain good friends and their collaborative work continues. They would like to thank their fans for their constant support and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
A few days later, Twigs took to Instagram to share her own statement about the split: “We are heartbroken to have to announce this most sad of news, but it is with much respect and love that we say Goodbye to a wonderful relationship. Thank you for your love and support throughout the years and for being there for us. We love you.”
Working Together On A Movie
Following their break-up, the former couple spent a lot of time apart. They both went their separate ways and got back together only to work on a movie called Wildlife. During production, the duo redye ditched their black-and-white palette for colorful wardrobes and sported matching hairstyles. While they were initially hesitant about acting together again, they warmed up to the idea and the end result is a beautiful homage to 70s chic.
After wrapping up filming in August 2016, Twigs and Pattinson released a joint statement about their working relationship: “We are honored to have been given the opportunity to work together again, especially as we have so much to offer the film as an entire creative team. Our partnership on this project has been essential in order to bring it to life and we could not have done it without the other’s support. We are truly grateful to have been given the opportunity to grow as individuals as well as a team and look forward to continuing this work in the future.”
Pattinson’s Next Move
In September 2016, the actor put his newfound single status on display as he attended multiple award-winning director Danny Boyle’s 70th birthday party at the London Coliseum, where he was joined by a host of A-list stars. Over the past year, the 32-year-old has mostly kept a low profile, appearing at a handful of film premieres and keeping a relatively safe distance from the spotlight.
But in April 2017, Pattinson will return to the big screen in a big way. His upcoming movie, High Life, co-stars a host of A-list celebs, including Lily James, Michael Sheen, and Kelly Macdonald. Set in the world of luxury fashion, the film is an adaptation of François Carlet’s 2010 best-selling novel of the same name, which itself was inspired by the great fashion houses of the 20th century.
In addition to acting in the film, Pattinson has also co-produced the project with his father, Robin, as well as Glorious director Florian Wilhelm. Production began in Italy in March 2017 and the movie is set for a theatrical release in April 2017.
Twigs’ Solo Career
While Pattinson was getting ready for his big comeback, the 23-year-old singer was busy establishing herself as a solo artist, putting out a series of solo tracks that continue to achieve viral status. Her debut studio album, Kuma, was released in May 2016 and debuted at number two on the Billboard Top 200. The record was officially certified platinum in December 2016 (just one month after its release), making it Twigs’ highest-charting album to date. Her follow-up studio album, Dr. Sutter’s Bizkit, was released in April 2017 and features guest appearances from the likes of Cardi B, Lizzo, and Charli XCX.
As a solo artist, Twigs has opened up about her life and work, giving interviews to popular publications like Vogue and Vanity Fair as well as taking the occasional spot on the big screen. But her fame mostly stems from her viral videos, which have amassed over 200 million views on YouTube. In fact, her first major break came when a YouTube video of her singing “Papillon” went viral and landed her a spot on Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” tour. Since then, she has appeared on countless music festival lineups around the world and has headlined her own tour, called the Twigsmas Lights mini-tour.
Twigs is just one of the many famous faces that will appear in the upcoming Ocean’s Eight movie, which is being directed by Gary Ross and stars Sandra Plewman, Daryl Hannah, and Edith Evans. The movie is set to hit theaters on August 9th.