Gaining worldwide recognition with her role in the Twilight Saga, Kristen Stewart has become a prolific actress in the film industry, earning several accolades, including an Oscar nomination, despite several past controversies.
Though none of them had a lasting impact, one particular incident would continue to haunt the actress, when she compared being chased by paparazzi to r*pe. While the comment could have significantly damaged her reputation and career, she managed to escape getting canceled with a follow-up apology.
Kristen Stewart’s insensitive remarks about comparing fame with r*pe
Kristen Stewart reached the peak of her fame with her portrayal of Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga. As her popularity soared, including with her on-screen and off-screen relationship with co-star Robert Pattinson, she found herself increasingly under the media spotlight.
However, the relentless attention became overwhelming for the actress, leading her to describe her discomfort with being followed by cameras with an extremely insensitive remark.
In a 2010 interview with British Elle, the actress reflected on her complicated relationship with fame, admitting, “A lot of the time, I can’t handle it.” She also shared, as per Today,
What you don’t see are the cameras shoved in my face, the bizarre intrusive questions being asked, or the people falling over themselves, screaming and taunting to get a reaction.
However, in her attempt to describe her discomfort, Stewart made an insensitive statement, saying, “The photos are so … I feel like I’m looking at someone being r*ped.”
The statement sparked widespread backlash for the Sacramento star, leading her to issue a public apology and acknowledge that she had made a big mistake.
Kristen Stewart admitted to making a “big mistake” with her inappropriate analogy
Kristen Stewart’s remarks in her Elle interview garnered major backlash from fans and r*pe victims’ advocacy organizations. Realizing her mistake, the Twilight star quickly issued a public apology for comparing her paparazzi shots to the images of a woman being r*ped.
“I really made an enormous mistake – clearly and obviously,” she told People, acknowledging her poor choice of words to describe her discomfort.
“And I’m really sorry about my choice of words,” she further said while clarifying that “‘Violated’ definitely would have been a better way of expressing the thought.“
The choice of words was surprising for many, given Stewart had been a vocal supporter of such causes. She had previously portrayed a r*pe survivor in the 2004 teen drama Speak and participated in public service announcements for the multiple advocacy groups, as per People.
“People thinking that I’m insensitive about this subject rips my guts out,” she said before adding, “I made a big mistake.”
While similar controversies often have a severe impact on one’s career, Stewart avoided long-term consequences, likely due to her swift apology and acknowledgment of her mistake. However, the incident remains a regrettable moment in her career, one that she and the public may never forget.
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