It has been said that opposites attract, and it is definitely true when it comes to Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz. The British actor and model have known each other for years, even if they haven’t always been in public life. Pattinson was initially drawn to Kravitz when she was working on music videos for her rapper husband, Swae Lee. After they became friends, the relationship blossomed, and they eventually got married in 2009. But it wasn’t until 2014 that the couple really showed their commitment to one another through their public displays of affection. Since then, they’ve become an iconic ‘Kissing Couple’ and attracted many meme-worthy reactions from fans and the media.
The two have had to deal with a fair share of haters, as well. The actress has spoken out about the negativity that comes with being in a celebrity couple, and she’s definitely not the only one. People have attacked her because of her association with the ‘Kissing Couple,’ and even death threats have been made. After the tragic death of her friend and collaborator Lenny Beckett in 2017, Kravitz dedicated a special tribute to him in her Instagram posts. In it, she mentioned how much he struggled with his mental health and asked people to offer their support. While these events were devastating for Kravitz, she has always remained faithful to her husband. In 2019, they welcomed their first child together.
So as we look back on the year that was, let’s examine the ways in which the media covered their relationship. The British tabloid The Sun was one of the first to report on the couple’s romantic blossoming, dubbing them “the most awkward couple on the planet” in a 2014 article. Since then, every major British newspaper and magazine has followed suit, using the ‘Kissing Couple’ as a convenient trend piece or hot celebrity story. The media frenzy drew in large audiences and made the pair famous- but it also created a lot of division among fans. Some embraced the attention, while others thought it was disrespectful to report on intimate matters in public. A lot of people felt that the press had no right to their privacy, especially when it comes to celebrities and those in the public eye. The actress has spoken out about this hypocrisy, calling out the double standards applied to celebrities and the public. For example, she’s noted that if a “normal” person kisses their lover on the lips in public, it’s acceptable for media outlets to report on it, but if a celebrity does the same, it’s considered “tabloid”.
One of the most interesting facets of the ‘Kissing Couple’ is how different perceptions of the event have evolved over time. While some people have always associated the gesture with a lack of respect or affection, the media has changed its tune. In 2014, The Sun published an article with the headline “Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz’s lip lock is neither dirty nor disrespectful,” affirming the status of the kiss as an innocent display of affection.
In other words, the media has decided that a celebrity couple’s kiss is neither bad nor good, but it’s just – well, kind of cool.
The Evolution Of A Popular Gesture
Prior to their 2014 romantic debut, the actor and model had never really shown much affection for each other in public. Most of their interactions were limited to photo shoots and music videos; they even attended a party together as friends, but didn’t share any real passion. That changed in August 2014 when they became the subject of a major media backlash after they locked lips in a non-sexually suggestive manner during the closing moments of the premiere of their film The Rover.
The image of the couple passionately kissing was splashed across front pages of British newspapers, and it soon went viral on social media. The scene was a part of a duet sung by Michael Jackson in the movie, which involves the couple performing an awkward make-out song. Despite the public relations nightmare that followed, the media frenzy continued to promote the ‘Kissing Couple,’ and a lot of people began to appreciate what Pattinson and Kravitz were trying to express through their little show-stopping moment. In the months that followed, the media continued to report on their on-screen and off-screen behavior, celebrating their romance and commitment to one another. Some outlets even praised them for displaying more ‘couples’ behavior’ on film than many other celebrity couples. Not that there’s anything “wrong” with showing affection in public, of course; in fact, many people feel that kissing is a beautiful thing and shouldn’t be reserved for intimate encounters.
One of the most interesting things about the ‘Kissing Couple’ is how the mainstream media has interpreted this supposedly private display of affection. While some have viewed the celebrity lips-lock as a sign of disrespect, it has actually done the opposite. This suggests that attitudes regarding the importance of privacy and personal space have changed over the years.
Where Do They Rank On The PDA (Public Displays Of Affection) Scale?
While they’ve attracted a lot of flack from the media, Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz have received a lot of positive attention from the public. In many ways, the actress has become the face of the movement to legitimize celebrity affection. People have credited her with giving the kiss a “makeover,” and in some cases, even seen her as a role model for LGBT+ people. One of her fans created the hashtag #IAmZoeKravitz, which has since been used more than 15 million times to express support for the actress.
In 2019, the couple tied the knot for a second time at an intimate ceremony in London. They honored the occasion with a simple yet elegant celebration at their wedding venue, Hotel Astoria. Amidst the celebrity attendees and the paparazzi, the bride and groom locked lips for the first time as a married couple. The media reacted with a resounding ‘Woah!’ and immediately began posting the images to their social media accounts. Naturally, fans and the general public alike were over the moon to see these two lovebirds get married. It was truly a memorable moment.
Why Did They Decide To Get Married?
It’s important to note that the ‘Kissing Couple’ aren’t breaking any new ground when it comes to celebrity same-sex relationships. For years, celebrities have been showing affection for one another in public, often sparking memes and inspiring parody videos. It wasn’t necessarily rare for stars to share intimate moments with each other on-camera, either. If anything, this sort of thing is becoming commonplace among celebrity couples and couples in the public sphere alike. What’s changing is the conversation that surrounds these displays of affection.
What’s interesting is that while some have criticized the ‘Kissing Couple’ for being disrespectful or even abusive towards one another, there hasn’t been any indication that this is actually the case. Despite the media frenzy that followed the premiere of their movie The Rover, Pattinson and Kravitz have always been quite respectful towards one another in real life, and they’ve continued to show this respect in their public displays of affection. Furthermore, many of their fans feel the same way- and this is reflected in the way that they’ve interacted with the media.
Why? It could be that they’ve decided that the benefits of publicity far outweigh the disadvantages. The couple have become so well-known and iconic because of the attention drawn to their marriage that it could be argued that they’re playing a part in raising awareness about the stigma that surrounds mental health issues. In a bizarre twist, the British tabloids have even dubbed them “Mental Health Warriors,” and this could very well be true. In any case, if you’re struggling with mental health issues, you can be sure that Pattinson and Kravitz are currently defending your rights.
What Do Fans Think Of The ‘Kissing Couple’?
While some people have criticized the ‘Kissing Couple’ for being disrespectful or even abusive towards one another, the majority of their fans feel that this is a non-issue. This is primarily because they’ve never viewed their romance as a bad thing, but simply an innocent display of affection.