Even though the Twilight films were full of cringe-worthy moments, it can’t be denied that the franchise was one of the most popular romantic fantasies of the 2000s. Adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling young adult novel series, the franchise made global superstars out of its two main actors: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Robert and Kristen were already scrutinized by the public for playing the popular roles of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, but that pressure majorly increased when they started dating in real life. The eyes of the world watched their relationship unfold, and also tuned in when the pair finally called it quits in 2013.
Since their days as a couple, both actors have opened up about their relationship and breakup. But do they still talk to each other? Keep reading to find out where these two famous exes stand today.
Are Kristen Stewart And Robert Pattinson Still Friends?
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson had one of the most high-profile romances in Hollywood history.
With the hysteria around the Twilight franchise and the relationship between their characters, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, it was hardly surprising that fans became even more obsessed with Rob and Kristen when they announced they were dating in real life.
Fast-forward to 2022 and the couple is no longer dating. However, it does seem that they are on good terms, even if they don’t see each other frequently.
Understandably, they rarely talk about each other in interviews as their former relationship pulls so much focus from their other projects and their careers in general.
But a source close to Kristen reported that the exes text occasionally. As of 2020, it was revealed that the pair were still on good terms:
"They text occasionally, sometimes about personal stuff and sometimes about work stuff. They are very much friendly but also very private too. Rob does not talk much about Kristen out of respect for what they once shared and where they are at now in their relationship."
More recently in late 2021, Kristen referred to her ex in an interview cited by People. In the rare occurrence, she revealed that she and Robert had great chemistry on screen—an admission she likely wouldn’t make if the pair weren’t on good terms.
Kristen explained that Robert had an "intellectual approach that was combined with 'I don't give a f--- about this, but I'm going to make this sing.'”
How Long Did Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart Date?
Robert and Kristen started dating in 2009. They met on the set of the first Twilight movie, which was released in 2008. They stayed together until 2013, dating for a total of four years before calling it quits.
Over the course of their relationship, the actors filmed a further four movies together: The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
According to Style Caster, the franchise’s director Catherine Hardwicke actually warned Robert against dating Kristen after the two showed chemistry while making the first movie. Hardwicke’s main motivation came from the fact that, at the time, Kristen was underage:
“I remember I told Rob, separately, I went, ‘Listen, man, you gotta remember that she’s under 18 and in our country, you can get in trouble! He went, ‘Okay, okay, jeez, calm down!’”
However, despite Hardwicke’s advice, the pair did enter into a relationship that had to withstand intense pressure as the eyes of the world watched them.
Why Did Rob And Kristen Break Up?
At the time they were dating, Twilight was in its peak and Rob and Kristen were considered a modern fairy tale romance. So what went wrong?
The couple split in May 2013, a year after Kristen was photographed kissing Rupert Sanders, the director of a film she starred in called Snow White and the Huntsman. At the time, Rupert was married to model Liberty Ross and had two children.
The same week that Kristen was photographed kissing the director, she was seen on a Los Angeles date with Robert and attended the 2012 Teen Choice Awards with him—suggesting that they were still together, and so she had in fact cheated on him.
After the photos were released, Kristen issued a public apology to Robert.
“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 statement read.
Rupert also publicly apologized to his wife and children.
Despite the photos, Robert and Kristen stayed together in an on-again-off-again arrangement for another year. When asked about the breakup in 2014, Robert revealed that the split didn’t necessarily come down to the cheating scandal, but rather the fact that the actors were so young when they got together.
In 2015, Kristen confessed (via Pop Sugar) that the breakup had been “incredibly painful”.