Robert Pattinson and Liberty Ross Jilted in Kristen Stewart Affair

Culture

Although Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson prefer to keep their relationship private, the two made a rare public appearance together at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday. Despite looking all lovey-dovey, apparently everything isn’t picture perfect for the couple. The cover of Us Weekly alleges that Stewart cheated on Pattinson with the married director, Rupert Sanders, who directed her movie Snow White and the Huntsman.

On Wednesday, Stewart issued an apology via People Magazine stating: "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." 

Since taking the role of Bella in the profitable Twilight series, the world has been watching Stewart's on and off-screen romance with co-star Pattinson. The public loves to watch love stories that happen in the movies play out in real life, but they hate to see love turn scandalous – especially when the female is to blame. With these cheating allegations, Stewart’s image will surely take a hit. She will no longer be the role model for thousands of tween girls who see Stewart and her Bella character as the paradigm of young love. All the while, Pattinson will only become more beloved by his adoring fans.

The magazine claims to have pictures of the starlet and Sanders in a “steamy rendezvous.” Instantly the story was picked up around the country by gossip blogs and magazines, casting Stewart in the role of home wrecker. Sanders’ model-actress wife Liberty Ross, tweeted “Wow” in response to a tweet by Us Weekly that showed pictures of what could have been Sanders cuddling with Stewart. Soon after her response to the magazine, Ross deactivated her Twitter account, further proof that the rumors may have merit.

If the story turns out to be true, Stewart stands to lose face with the public. If history is any indication of the future, anyone can be forgiven for a small indiscretion if they have the right body parts (Jude Law, Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt …). Pattinson and even Sanders’ will presumably bounce back from this mess unscathed, but Stewart will always have to shift the focus from her personal life to her professional one. 

This is unfair; but in our celeb-obsessed and misogynistic world, it’s to be expected. The woman will always take the brunt of the blame in situations like this, even when all parties are equally guilty.  

Like all ardent “Robsten” fans, I hope that these rumors aren’t true. Not for Stewart and her career, but for real the victims of this whole debacle; the public who will  have to suffer through all the publicity for Breaking Dawn Part 2.