The world caved in on Twilight fans yesterday.
Their beloved heroine from the movie series, Kristen Stewart, had done the unthinkable – cheating on boyfriend and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.
The third party?
Her Snow White And The Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, a man twice her age.
The 22-year-old Stewart plays Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga franchise and the heroine in Snow White And The Huntsman.
In the romance movies based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novels, human teen Bella only has eyes for Pattinson’s vampire Edward Cullen, and vice versa.
The young actors’ on-screen romance quickly went off-screen, and they were affectionately dubbed Robsten.
So naturally when news erupted that Stewart had been unfaithful after Us Weekly magazine published incriminating photos of her making out with Sanders, 41, the reactions came fast and furious.
Everything looked rosy for Pattinson when the young couple were photographed enjoying each other’s company while promoting Breaking Dawn – Part 2 at the recent San Diego Comic-Con International.
Their last public appearance as a couple was at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, where The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, took home awards for choice romance movie.
It did not help that British film-maker Sanders is married to model Liberty Ross, with whom he has two children, aged five and seven.
“Stupid girl,” Ms Jan Leong told The New Paper when asked about Stewart’s infidelity. “How could she have cheated on Robert Pattinson?”
Ms Leong, a medical professional in her 40s, is a big fan of the British actor but “not so much of Kristen”. She is, however, taking the scandal with “a pinch of salt”, and adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
So is Miss Aishah Al-Rashid, who admitted that she had doubts about the initial reports. The 22-year-old clinic assistant, who is also one of the administrators of local Twilight fan club TwilightSingapore. com, said: “I don’t want to assume the worst.”
However, denial turned into disbelief after she read of Stewart’s apology.
A day after her affair became public, the American actress issued a statement to People magazine addressing her British beau, with whom she shares a house in Los Angeles.
It read: “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 jeopardised 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.”
Said Miss Aishah: “I’m still a strong believer in Robsten... It’s upsetting. How can she do that?”
Following Stewart’s statement, Sanders also swiftly expressed his regrets.
“I am utterly distraught about the pain I have caused my family,” he told People. “My beautiful wife and heavenly children are all I have in this world. I love them with all my heart. I am praying that we can get through this together.”
Ross herself took to social media and retweeted a Marilyn Monroe quote from the Women of History, which read: “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”
The 33-year-old has since deactivated her Twitter account.
A provocative photo showing a crying “Snow White” guzzling beer with the caption “Not so pretty or pure after all” was also posted on Ross’ Instagram page.
However, after the picture made its rounds of the Internet, Ross apparently changed her privacy settings, making it no longer available.
British model Ross is a familiar face in high-end magazines, such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and has worked on campaigns for Burberry and Dior.
If her husband found Stewart enchanting, so did Ross, championing her for the role of Snow White, reported the Mail Online, which quoted her as saying: “She’s got something very transfixing about her.”
Ross had a bit role in Snow White And The Huntsman, ironically playing Snow White’s mother.
Some local Twi-hards initially thought the scandal might have been an elaborate publicity stunt, and that the published photos were doctored.
After all, The Twilight Saga will conclude after a four-year run with Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which opens here on Nov 22.
Said marketing manager Ashley Fu: “Naturally, I first thought it was a stunt. But upon further consideration, I thought it was unnecessary as the movie has such a following already.”
Concurred Miss Aishah: “I wouldn’t like to think (the movie studio) would pull a stunt like this, putting Robsten in jeopardy.”
She also disagreed that Robsten is merely a showmance, a fake relationship developed to help promote the actors’ projects.
She said: “They have been discreet and subtle about their relationship, but it’s been going on for years now.”
Agreed Miss Eisabess Chee: “You never read about any problems between them.”
The 18-year-old student, who felt that while infidelity shouldn’t be taken lightly, added: “I don’t think we should blindly forgive her because we’re fans of her work, but her making an earnest apology so quickly is a huge first step towards making amends for her mistake.”
But to label Stewart a home-wrecker may be going a bit too far, said Miss Chee. “It takes two hands to clap... He’s 41. He is way older than Kristen. He should have the maturity to know better. Who knows what problems he may already be having at home.”
But being involved in an fling may just be the thing to enhance Stewart’s post-Twilight career and appeal.
Said the 28-year-old Miss Fu: “Her image may be affected, but I doubt her popularity will drop. She’s young. Young people do foolish things.”
Student Lim Jian Wei, 21, shared similar sentiments: “Having a scandal pretty much comes with the job of being a Hollywood celebrity. I think this will cement her position as the ‘bad girl’ of Hollywood, something she has been aiming for.”
Stewart has certainly tried to shake off her good-girl Bella image by taking on wilder roles.
In 2009’s Adventureland, she played a theme park worker who has a secret affair with her married colleague (Ryan Reynolds). She followed it up a year later with a role as a teenage stripper in Welcome To The Rileys.
She will go topless and take part in a threesome scene for the upcoming On The Road, and is getting ready to start work on Cali, an action film about two lovers who disappear after making a bundle on a bogus snuff film.
“I’m going to get into the best shape of my life. I’m going to look like a stripper. I’m going to look like a porn star,” she told Women’s Wear Daily.
Despite the disappointment, it won’t stop Twi-hards from heading to the cinemas for the concluding instalment of The Twilight Saga.
Said Ms Leong: “I like the movies because of the characters, not so much the actors, though they did do a good job. I’m still looking forward to the movie. It’ll be a good closure for us fans.”
Even self-confessed Twi-hater Lim said: “Robert’s fans might call for a boycott of Kristen’s future films but I don’t think they will boycott Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
“I think Twi-hards have proven themselves to be resilient despite all the backlash the series has received. If legit criticism about the films don’t set them back, I don’t think Stewart’s infidelity will.”
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This article was first published in The New Paper.