Kristen Stewart has shared that she was once advised to conceal her relationships with women, but she chose to come out to avoid living a ‘partial life.’ The 35-year-old actress, now married to screenwriter Dylan Meyer, revealed this in an interview highlighting why openness about her sexuality was essential to her well-being and authenticity. Her choice to be transparent reflects her commitment to living fully without hiding parts of herself from the public and the industry.
Relationships and Early Public Statements About Sexuality
Before marrying Dylan Meyer, Stewart was romantically linked to French singer Soko and model Stella Maxwell. While she identified as bisexual in a 2017 interview, she also referred to herself as ‘so gay, dude’ during a Saturday Night Live appearance that same year, addressing then-President Donald Trump. These moments signaled her early steps in publicly acknowledging her sexuality amid Hollywood’s complicated environment around LGBTQ+ identities.
Facing Pressure to Conceal Personal Life
Stewart spoke candidly on ABC News Live Prime Time with Linsey Davis about the career risks she faced due to her relationships with women. Despite advice from people she loved and trusted to be less open, she refused to comply. She described conversations where she was told,
“Your career would go better if you didn’t go outside holding your girlfriend’s hand.”
However, she challenged this by asking,
“So you want me to live a partial life? And you want me to uphold, perpetuate and sustain a system that excludes people?”
This refusal marked a turning point in her decision to live openly, rejecting industry pressures to hide her true self.
Impact of Media Coverage on Her Decision
According to Stewart, media speculation about her romantic life prior to officially coming out made her reluctant to play into stereotypes or caricatures. She stated she did not want her life to feel like a “comic book,” yet she recognized the necessity of visibility. Already publicly affectionate with her partner, she said,
“I want to define it, I want to make it a more open and accepting place,”
emphasizing her goal to foster broader acceptance through her openness.
Relationships That Define Her Journey
Kristen Stewart began dating Dylan Meyer in 2019 and the couple married in April 2025. Their relationship was celebrated openly on social media, with Stewart captioning a wedding post,
“I do. I really really really really really do.”
Her previous relationships also played a role in her journey: she dated Soko in 2016 and Stella Maxwell from late 2016 through 2018, relationships that contributed to her personal growth and public identity.
Challenges Faced as an Actress and Director
Stewart has recently ventured into directing with her debut film, The Chronology of Water. When speaking to The Sunday Times, she reflected on the challenges actresses face in Hollywood, describing their treatment bluntly:
“Actresses get treated like s***, I’ve got to tell you.”
Her directorial experience provided a stark contrast, offering her a new respect from industry peers. She explained,
“Wow, this is a different experience, they are talking to me like I’m somebody with a brain.”
This shift illustrates her ongoing fight for respect and authenticity within the entertainment world.
The Broader Significance of Kristen Stewart’s Openness
Kristen Stewart’s willingness to come out publicly amid pressure highlights a broader struggle faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Hollywood and beyond. Her determination to reject a “partial life” challenges systemic exclusion and contributes to increasing visibility and acceptance. As she continues to live openly and create work behind the camera, Stewart serves as a prominent figure advocating for authenticity and change within an industry that often demands conformity.
