What a difference a year makes. On July 17, 2012, Kristen Stewart was caught cheating on Robert Pattinson with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. (Us Weekly broke news of the fling with exclusive photos of the shocking tryst, taken on July 17.) The scandal left the Twilight actress “devastated” for jeopardizing her relationship with her longtime boyfriend. Sanders, who has two young children with his wife, model Liberty Ross said in a statement he was “utterly distraught” for the pain he caused his family.
Now, one year later, both respective couples have ended their relationships. Here, Us offers a timeline of events that lead to the heartbreak and all that has happened since the scandal.
August 2011: Stewart begins filming Snow White and the Huntsman with Sanders in England and Wales. A source tells Us the actress was “early every day” for work.
May 15, 2012: Stewart and the director enjoyed a group dinner with Snow White castmembers at Monsieur Vuong Vietnamese restaurant in Berlin, Germany.
July 17, 2012: The 22-year-old actress met up with Sanders, 41, for a series of steamy makeout sessions in Los Angeles, which was caught by photographers. The twosome spent the afternoon driving around L.A. in search of secluded places.
July 19, 2012: Pattinson and Stewart seemed especially cozy during a date at Hotel Cafe. During their outing in Los Angeles, “she leaned against him,” says a witness, who adds that the couple’s PDA was “cute.”
July 22, 2012: Stewart and Pattinson attended the 2012 Teen Choice Awards together in Universal City, Calif. The stars walked out on stage holding hands and gave their awards to their fans while thanking them for their years of support.
July 23, 2012: Rumors began to circulate that Us was preparing to publish an explosive story that Stewart was caught cheating. Fans took to Twitter to express their disbelief and horror over the mere idea that Stewart could be unfaithful to Pattinson. Outraged Twi-hards claimed the photos were Photoshopped and couldn’t possibly be of Stewart.
July 24, 2012: Us released an exclusive set of photos of Stewart and Sanders’s makeout session in Los Angeles. During his marathon makeout session with Stewart, “it seemed like they couldn’t get enough,” according to one photographer. Sanders’ wife tweeted “Wow” just moments after Us called her husband’s rep for comment. She then later deactivated her Twitter account.
July 25, 2012: In her most public proclamation of affection for her man, the actress released an anguished statement of apology, saying, “I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected. This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.” Sanders, issued his own statement, shortly after Stewart. “I am utterly distraught about the pain I have caused my family,” the English director told Us. “My beautiful wife and heavenly children are all I have in this world. I love them with all my heart. I am praying that we can get through this together.”
Twipocalypse arrived as fans try to come to terms with the reality of the scandal after Stewart and Sanders confess. One Twi-hard posted a heartbreaking video reaction to Stewart’s statement in which she cried on camera reading out loud. “If you loved him that much, you wouldn’t have done it,” she said between tears. “The thing is, you were stupid enough to be photographed doing it! Don’t be so stupid!”
July 26: With Pattinson hiding out since the news broke, a source close to the actor told Us he was “really depressed. He doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know if he should forgive her or not.” Another source close to both stars told Us that Stewart was “devastated. She’s very angry at herself. She’s really not blaming anyone but herself.” A third source added, “Rob is beyond devastated. He’s so heartbroken. He’s shocked she could hurt him and humiliate him this way.” Pattinson’s Water for Elephants costar Reese Witherspoon offered up her tranquil, $7 million ranch in Ojai, Calif. for the actor to stay at to get away from the scandal.
September 2012: Sources revealed to Us that Stewart and Pattinson “had a dramatic makeup.” “They’re working it out,” the source said. “He’s still in love with her.” After reconciling, Pattinson also moved back in with Stewart.
Oct. 15, 2012: #RobstenIsUnbroken! Pattinson and Stewart delighted fans when there were photographed together for the first time since the cheating scandal. The reunited couple were spotted having an intimate chat outside a L.A. bar.
Oct. 17, 2012: Sanders and wife of 11 years Ross are photographed embracing after an apparent couple’s counseling session in Beverly Hills.
Nov. 12, 2012: Stewart and Pattinson posed on their first joint red carpet since the cheating scandal at the L.A. premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2. When asked if she was back together with Pattinson during a Nov. 7 interview on the TODAY show, Stewart said, “I’m going to just let people watch whatever little movie they think our lives are. Keep ’em guessing, I always say.”
January 2013: Ross filed for divorce from Sanders, asking for joint custody of the couple’s two young children, Skyla and Tennyson, as well as spousal support and attorney’s fees. “They gave it a shot for the kids, [but] she was just so angry,” an insider told Us of Sander’s tryst with Stewart. “She’s the kind of person who wouldn’t really ever get over it.”
March 19, 2013: While Pattinson was away for over two months filming The Rover in Australia, rumors circulated that the couple was broken up. But Robsten fans breathed a little easier after the Twilight twosome were photographed reunited in L.A. at a karaoke bar.
May 18, 2013: Multiple sources confirmed to Us that Pattinson and Stewart broke up. A source close to the actor told Us the couple was “having problems” and “fighting a lot.”
May 21, 2013: Pattinson moves out of his ex-girlfriend’s L.A. home with a pickup truck filled with his possessions and his two dogs. A source told Us the couple argued bitterly “about the cheating, about how selfish she always is, about how moody she always is.”
July 3, 2013: A rep for actress Riley Keough, the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the grandddaughter of Elvis Presley, confirmed that she was not the “mystery girl” photographed riding in Pattinson’s truck on June 29. “Riley isn’t dating Rob,” a rep for the 24-year-old actress told Just Jared. “And I can confirm that Riley was not photographed at all this weekend.”
July 8, 2013: Love for Robsten continues for fans even after their breakup. Stewart was greeted with the words “I [heart] Rob” written on the hood of her dirty car in North Hollywood.
