Robert Pattinson Claps Back at Twilight Critics: “Are You Still Stuck on That S—?”
Robert Pattinson, the brooding star who made teenage hearts swoon as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, is biting back at critics who still blame the franchise for “ruining” the vampire genre.
In a recent interview with GQ Spain (translated by Variety), the 38-year-old actor didn’t hold back in addressing the long-standing shade thrown at the blockbuster series. “I love that people keep telling me, ‘Man, Twilight ruined the vampire genre,” he said. “Are you still stuck on that s—? How can you be sad about something that happened almost 20 years ago? It’s crazy.”
Ouch. Pattinson’s not mincing words, and honestly, he’s got a point. The first Twilight movie hit theaters in 2008, and yet its sparkly vampires and melodramatic love story still seem to haunt certain fans of the genre.
For Pattinson, the Twilight years were a whirlwind. The films brought him and co-star Kristen Stewart global fame but the road wasn’t always smooth. He’s been pretty candid over the years about his mixed feelings toward the series.
In one memorable quote, Pattinson admitted, “The people who don’t like it are generally people who haven’t seen it, and they’re like all judgmental and stuff, and cynical people. But I think I am a judgmental and cynical person who would just mindlessly hate it without ever having seen anything.”
The actor also reflected on the series’ massive cultural impact during a 2019 Variety Actors on Actors interview with Jennifer Lopez. He confessed, “I mean, it’s a weird story, Twilight. It’s strange how people responded.”
While he acknowledged the franchise’s romantic appeal, he added, “They are very romantic, but at the same time, it’s not like The Notebook romantic. The Notebook is very, very sweet and heartbreaking and stuff. Twilight is about this guy who finds the one girl he wants to be with, and also wants to eat her. Well, not eat her, drink her blood, whatever.”
In another interview, Pattinson revealed he tried to make the movie as “arty as possible,” which didn’t sit well with the studio. Things got so tense that his team had to intervene.
He recalled being told, “Okay, so whatever you’re doing right now, after lunch just do the opposite, or you’ll be fired by the end of the day.” Remembering his response, Pattinson shared, “And I was like, ‘Okay.’ And so that was the only thing that got me to sort of smile a little bit.”
Pattinson’s journey from reluctant vampire heartthrob to indie darling and blockbuster lead is nothing short of fascinating. And while he may never fully escape Edward Cullen’s shadow, it’s clear he’s embracing his Twilight past—critics and all.
