The Twilight love triangle! For years, it caused heated arguments and split supporters. The core struggle is around Bella Swan, a human teen stuck between the affections of two charming immortal creatures of the night.
At the height of its fame, Twilight fandom was sweeping the nation, everyone from high school teens to soccer moms was forced to declare whether they were Team Jacob or Team Edward.
Based on Stephenie Meyer's popular book series, Twilight debuted in cinemas in 2008, showcasing Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as the mysterious Edward. The pic became a box office triumph, generating four sequels and cementing Twilight's position in pop cultural history, thanks to its dark atmosphere and compelling chemistry between the protagonists.
But in a recent interview with Variety, actress Kristen Stewart says fans of the novels and movies should have been looking at the love triangle between Bella, Jacob and Edward from a different perspective.
"I can only see it now," said Stewart “I don’t think it necessarily started off that way, but I also think that the fact that I was there at all, it was percolating. It’s such a gay movie."
She continued, "I mean, Jesus Christ; Taylor and Rob and me, and it’s so hidden and not okay. I mean, a Mormon woman wrote this book. It’s all about oppression, about wanting what’s going to destroy you. That’s a very Gothic, gay inclination that I love.”
Twilight fans around the globe are now eagerly awaiting Stephenie Meyer's response to Stewart's comments. There aren't any explicitly LGBTQ+ characters in the novels but the fantasy series became very popular within the LGBTQ+ community. Theories about LGBTQ+ undertones in the series only intensified after Stewart revealed her sexuality on TV.
Stewart came out during her Saturday Night Live monologue in 2017 after breaking off her relationship with Pattinson. She told Variety, "It wasn't even like I was hiding. I had been openly seeing my partner for years at that time."
As evidenced by online reactions to Stewart's comments, Twilight continues to elicit discussion and controversy even more than a decade after the first film premiered in theaters. Whether you love it or despise it, there's no disputing its influence on young adult literature, movies, and pop culture in general.
What are your feelings about the Twilight Saga? Did you back Edward or Jacob as the best suitor for Bella? Comment below with your recollections and insights!