Open mouth, blank stare. Classic Kristen Stewart.

The life of a Hollywood starlet is a tough one. These  ingenues usually are just emerging from their teen years and awkward phases, before they are suddenly thrust into the limelight. Suddenly, along with the glitz and glamor afforded to the celebrity elite, comes the slew of paparazzi, media buzz and public scrutiny. Indeed, from the moment they become America’s sweethearts, the lives of these young girls is on display for the rest of us adoring onlookers. What makes or breaks a starlet is their ability to handle their new found fame. Time after time we have seen a young actress or singer crash under the pressure and spiral out of control. But not every actress is Lindsay Lohan.

In the past year, the career of one actress has captured the attention of the world. Jennifer Lawrence, or J. Law as the media has affectionately dubbed her, is the newest young sensation to emerge from the silver screen. Lawrence’s budding career and most recent Academy Award win for best actress has labeled her as a star to watch. Many think she could be the next Meryl Streep. But before we all get our hopes up, let us recall the career of another starlet that started with high hopes and ended in scandal and controversy.

In many ways, Kristen Stewart and Jennifer are very alike. Both were in their teens when they were discovered. Their careers were launched through pre-teen books that became successful movie franchises. Both girls were met with great praise for their performances and were immediately placed on Hollywood’s hot list. They even have matching nicknames! (K. Stew, J. Law…that couldn’t have been a coincidence) A key difference to consider, though, when examining the careers of both starlets, is the amount of time they have each had under the glare of the Tinseltown spotlight. On the one hand, Lawrence’s career can be said to just be taking off: she has won an Oscar  but her mainstream blockbuster The Hunger Games has one had one installment thus far. Stewart, on the other hand  may just be in the twilight of her career. No pun intended. Indeed, the young star has fallen from grace and tumbled right into  a PR nightmare, a stark contrast from where she was last year, on top of her A game.

2012 was poised to be Kristen Stewart’s year. She was riding high off of the success of Twilight, the role of protagonist Bella Swan was arguably her claim to fame. Women and girls all around the world knew her name, and everyone was dying to work with Kristen. Her next role would be her first as an independent actress. She was set to star as Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman, a part that would solidify her standing as one of Hollywood’s brightest up-and-coming stars. Needless to say, all of that time in the limelight would put pressure on any actress.

Kristen Stewart isn’t like most actresses. She avoids attention like the plague, shunning paparazzi and all media outlets with casual nonchalance. I found her dismissal of fame quite annoying to say the least. While most of us normal individuals would greet success with thankfulness, she instead displayed outright apathy. The painful looks on Stewart’s face made it obvious that she would rather be anywhere but walking the red carpet, or greeting fans, or meeting Hollywood legends. Indeed, the actresses’ lack of enthusiasm was one of her most unappealing qualities, something no amount of public relations therapy could cure. But hey, even in the real world some of us like our privacy.

Unfortunately if you truly crave the celebrity lifestyle, privacy is the only luxury which even they, at times, cannot afford. Stewart was also involved in an extremely public relationship with her Twilight co-star, Robert Pattinson. For the majority of their romance the couple kept their love on the down-low, avoiding the cameras at every turn. But it was only a matter of time before everyone was aware that they were an item.

Since then, things have only gotten more difficult for Stewart. In July 2012, a few months after the release of Snow White and the Huntsmen, shocking photos emerged of Kristen in a rather compromising situation with her very married director Rupert Sanders. And this is where the PR madness began. How could a rising actress ever hope to work in Hollywood again when she indulged in such unprofessional conduct?

Indeed, Stewart had a number of factors working against her. ( 1.) She was the face of a very public franchise for young girls, based around true love. What mother would want her daughter looking up to an actress whose moral standards are questionable? (2.) Kristen and her boyfriend Robert Pattinson were co-stars in the Twilight movies set to be released in 2012. It was doubtful that either of them could handle the awkwardness of sitting on a couch next to one another pretending to be content. ( 3.) Stewart’s connection to the potentially lucrative Snow White franchise, which would have catapulted her into super-stardom, was now in jeopardy.

Kristen Stewart’s affair with Rupert Sanders exposed to the public eye

I believe that Kristen Stewart’s team handled her difficult situation as elegantly as they could. A few days after the pictures were crashed across every media outlet, Stewart’s group issued a public apology. I don’t know if I necessarily agree with this bold move. Wasn’t her tumultuous relationship already public enough? I personally think it would be more embarrassing for my significant other to publicly apologize to the world for adultery rather than just to me. Why does she owe the public an apology? Additionally, the move was uncharacteristically vocal from the normally tight-lipped star. This statement was most likely concocted by her PR people.

“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected…”

Director Rupert Sanders’ camp made it clear that Stewart would no longer be involved in the Snow White franchise. This was a big blow to Stewart, who after the Twilight films, could probably have used the blooming blockbuster to boost her career credentials. No doubt Sanders’ wife Liberty Ross, who also starred in the film, wouldn’t want the woman who trifled with her marriage on set. However, it was better to remove her from the films rather than have her continue association with the man with whom she had an  alleged affair.

As far as public reputation goes, though, not everything is salvageable. It was hard for me to want to watch Stewart and Pattinson in the newest Twilight film now knowing the intimate details of their love life. Indeed, many were and are still disenchanted with the starlet’s behavior. Months later the affair continues to dominate the news and overshadows her acting chops. More people are interested in her personal life than what movies she is releasing. Additionally, her appearance at the Oscar’s was less than stellar and earned low marks with many critics. Not only did she arrive wearing some kind of boot on her foot, but she appeared extremely disheveled, with messy hair and a nervous expression.

We will see if Stewart can still handle the pressures of the limelight

Look here Kristen, you can no longer get by with casual nonchalance and an apathetic attitude. Unfortunately you are not in good graces with your public, which consists of primarily women. The majority of us do not approve of home-wreckers. So if I could give you any advice it would be this: try to give a damn. No number of PR stunts, appearances on Good Morning America or public apologies can make up for actually seeming like you care. Because, Kristen, we the fans are your biggest supporters. And if you don’t care about the way you portray yourself, why should we care about you? We realize that you are human and you make mistakes. Heck, I personally that makes you a little bit more likeable. That being said never assume that you are ‘all that”. Take a bite of some humble pie and try to look us in the eye with gratefulness and repentance, and maybe, just maybe we will dole out some sympathy and come see your newest flick On The Road. I hear it’s supposed to be good. I’m rooting for you.

P.S. Give your PR people a break, they are working hard for you. Try to return the favor. And maybe take a tip or two from Jennifer Lawrence. Because we love that girl.

The Social Butterfly

We would love to hear your thoughts about K. Stew! Love her? Hate her? Let us know!