The love story between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson has millions of fans worldwide, transforming from an on-screen vampire romance into one of Hollywood’s most scrutinized real-life relationships. Their journey began in 2007 during Twilight auditions, where Stewart literally swooned when she first kissed Pattinson during their chemistry read at director Catherine Hardwicke’s house. What started as professional chemistry quickly evolved into something deeper, with Stewart describing the moment as an instant connection where both actors shared an intellectual approach combined with a rebellious “I don’t give a f*** about this, but I’m going to make this sing” attitude.
The couple officially became romantically involved in 2009, with Stewart finally confirming their relationship in a 2011 British GQ interview by casually mentioning, “My boyfriend is English.” For four years, they navigated the intense pressures of fame while trying to maintain privacy, with Stewart explaining that they avoided public displays of affection because “we didn’t wanna give it to ’em,” though this meant they “didn’t get to walk down the street holding hands, and it sucked.” Their relationship became a defining moment for early 2010s celebrity culture, with fans shipping the couple both on and off screen throughout the Twilight saga’s five-film run from 2008 to 2012.
The Beginning: From Co-Stars to Lovers
Stewart and Pattinson’s romance began during the filming of the first Twilight movie in 2008, when Stewart was 18 and Pattinson was 22. Their on-screen chemistry as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen translated seamlessly into real life, with Stewart later admitting on The Howard Stern Show that she was “super, super f***ing in love” with her co-star. The actress described Pattinson as her “first” love, explaining that while she had been in love with her high school boyfriend, her relationship with Pattinson was different because “we were, like, a little older, and it was just like, ‘gu-gang’.”
The couple worked hard to keep their relationship private during their early years together, with Stewart emphasizing her desire to protect what was theirs. “I’m selfish. I’m like, ‘That’s mine!’ And I like to keep whatever is mine remaining that way,” she explained in 2011. Despite their efforts at privacy, their relationship became increasingly public as they attended premieres together and were photographed looking cozy on red carpets throughout the Twilight franchise.
The Peak Years: Living Together and Public Appearances
From 2009 to 2012, Stewart and Pattinson’s relationship flourished despite the intense media scrutiny. They reportedly rented a place together in Los Angeles while Pattinson filmed Water for Elephants in 2010. The couple managed to visit each other on various film sets, with Pattinson spotted visiting Stewart during the filming of “On the Road,” where she acted alongside his best friend Tom Sturridge.
Their relationship reached a public peak at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012, where both attended with their respective films “Cosmopolis” and “On the Road.” After spending time apart due to their separate filming schedules, paparazzi captured them behaving like a normal couple in love at the festival’s afterparty, with fans thrilled to finally see them together publicly. This moment represented the height of their romance, just months before everything would dramatically change.
The Cheating Scandal: The Beginning of the End
The couple’s relationship took a devastating turn in July 2012 when Stewart was photographed kissing Rupert Sanders, the married director of “Snow White and the Huntsman.” Sanders, who was 41 and married with two children, had directed the then-22-year-old Stewart in the fantasy film. The scandal erupted when photos of their intimate moment were published, creating an unprecedented media frenzy and fan backlash.
Stewart immediately issued a public apology that was both candid and remorseful: “I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected. This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.” The actress later clarified that her affair with Sanders never went beyond kissing, emphasizing that it was a mistake made during a difficult period in her personal life.
The Attempted Reconciliation and Final Breakup
Following the cheating scandal, Pattinson initially moved out of the house they shared. However, by the fall of 2012, the couple attempted to reconcile their relationship, with reports indicating they were spending time together again. Despite their efforts to rebuild their romance, the relationship remained unstable, with underlying trust issues and continued media pressure taking their toll.
The final breakup occurred in May 2013, with the catalyst being Pattinson discovering text messages from Rupert Sanders on Stewart’s phone. The couple had a massive fight on Pattinson’s birthday, and on May 19, 2013, fans witnessed Pattinson driving away from Stewart’s home with all his belongings. A source told People at the time that “Kristen has been in a terrible mood, and it was obvious that things were not great with Rob.”
The Aftermath: Reflection and Moving Forward
In the years following their breakup, both actors reflected on their relationship and its end. Stewart described the period as “incredibly painful,” telling the Daily Beast in 2015: “It was incredibly painful. Ugh, my finger kills me. Relationships. You just never find know.” She also revealed that the intense media scrutiny and breakup had turned her “feral,” explaining to Marie Claire: “I lit my universe on fire, and I watched it burn.”
Stewart continued to criticize the commodification of their relationship, telling the New York Times in 2016: “People wanted me and Rob to be together so badly that our relationship was made into a product. It wasn’t real life anymore. And that was gross to me.” She emphasized that the couple had no role models for such intense public scrutiny, explaining that they chose to never discuss their relationship publicly because “it’s ours.”
By 2014, Pattinson had moved on from the relationship, telling British Esquire: “It’s just young people … it’s normal. The hardest part was talking about it afterward. Because when you talk about other people, it affects them in ways you can’t predict.” Despite their painful ending, Stewart still acknowledged Pattinson as a “charming guy” during her 2019 Howard Stern interview, showing that time had healed some wounds.
