"Love Bites" by Zoya

Robert and Kristen: Love Bites!


As soon as Twilight (the movie) became culturally popular, rumour began to fly about dating within the cast. Surprise, surprise, all of a sudden, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were supposedly secretly dating. On the covers of tabloid magazines everywhere were carefully constructed photos of the two stars gazing at each other, sneaking out of hotels together, or just standing nonchalantly within a few meters of each other. Magazines that were formerly marketed to a customarily middle-aged demographic suddenly found themselves inundated with tween Twi-hards, eager for their favourite love story to somehow become real (I'm not even going to bother pointing out here that Kristen is not Bella Swan, and that Robert is not A VAMPIRE, because that seems pointless in the face of such delusion).

What really surprises me about the rumours of love between Robert and Kristen is how easily people believed it. It was as though, in their eagerness to believe that fantasy could become reality, the public somehow forgot the blatant publicity stunts most movies and magazines use to market themselves. Unless people can actually construe Robert and Kristen's awkward twitching at each other on screen as some kind of intense sexual tension, I honestly can't see any chemistry between them. Having said that, I understand that that's something that depends on individual perspectives, but the way in which the stars then dealt with the rumours screamed of publicity stunt. First, there was coy denial: "Robert and I are great friends but I understand why you would assume that, when we lean on each other for support, there must be something more," Kristen said. So, there's nothing going on now, but there might be in the future. That's right, fans, keeping watching the movies and reading the gossip mags, because you wouldn't want to miss that.

Then, there's deliberate flirting in joint interviews, photo's of them hugging on film sets that mysteriously appear on the internet, and the knowledge that they're both single.

Maybe they're dating, maybe they're not (I'm voting not), but nobody can deny that this particular rumour is bringing in the big bucks. Later, there'll be a rumour that Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner are cheating on Robert. Yet more magazines are sold. Who knows, maybe I'm just too cynical to believe in 'true love', but I'm just saying- it's all a bit too convenient. And if you think I'm being harsh on Robert and Kristen's supposed relationship, don't get me started on Bella and Edward. It won't be pretty.