Opinion Scarlet woman

There isn’t any acknowledgement that Stewart is being singled out for opprobrium over the sins of her married lover. It’s wrapped up in “role model” this and “fairytale love” that. Stewart is,supposedly,the object of a million hate-balloons because she broke her own beloved’s heart. That’s Robert Pattinson,a young man quite famous among a certain set of girls for being thin and dreary. They love him! And all they want to know is when they will find a nice,protective,chivalrous vampire of their very own. His skin glitters,for goodness’ sake! Does Stewart not understand how rare it is to find a vampire with glittery skin?

It would be one thing if it were just the teenage fans who were crying and shrieking and tearing their hair and clutching their bosoms. But it is also actual grown women,who can type on at the length of thousands of words,about the example a young actress sets when cuckolding her actor boyfriend,and role models,and other such judgmental nonsense.

Here is a mercifully shortened taste of the beginning of one woman’s screed — of course,that woman is Bonnie Fuller,one of the most celebrated (and highest-paid) magazine editors in the US. Her Agony Aunt routine goes on seemingly forever: “Kristen Stewart — you didn’t just break Robert Pattinson’s heart when you cheated on him,you also let down millions of young women who admired you… you may not have set out to be a role model when you signed on to play Bella Swan in the five Twilight movies. But you sure became one… you appeared to have so much in common with awkward,insecure Bella who was a devoted,loving and loyal daughter,friend,girlfriend and then wife… real women liked that.”

It goes on forever,wagging its finger and scolding. And lecturing. And being ever so distraught and judgmental. Role models,letting down the fans,who thought all relationships shine on as brightly as a vampire’s skin apparently does in the sun.

But maybe it is time for the upset teens whom Fuller wants to protect from the knowledge that in fact most relationships don’t end as happily as in Hollywood movies to learn that,er,well what was just said. That most relationships don’t end as happily as in Hollywood movies. It is generally assumed that when a relationship begins when the woman is 18 years old,it will probably not be the kind of lasting attachment that young women so fervently long for. We assume young women and men need some life choices behind them,some education,some experience and some pain,including the pain of having had romances sour,before they can be proper partners in a lasting love.

People change. People cheat. People give in to base desires,and hormones,and the sexiness of an older man and power. Other people give in to base desires,and hormones,and the beauty of a young body even when they’ve got a beauty waiting at home. And everyone is devastated,not least the people who did the cheating. (Well,sometimes they are devastated least. Sometimes they are relationship sociopaths,flinging themselves at anything that walks by,never mind the torpedoes.)

And that is something that young girls should know too. Let us return to Bonnie Fuller and her words of scolding wisdom: “So Kristen… don’t forget that you aren’t the only one picking up the pieces. How you handle yourself… will also influence the young women who looked up to you.” Perhaps its time for “the fans” to learn that actors are in fact real people and not written for the screen,and for Bonnie Fuller to cut the sanctimony. Bonnie,dear,it’s unbecoming.

Schoenkopf is editor of Wonkette,Los Angeles