Kristen Stewart openly declared her sexuality during her first appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2017, stating plainly, “I’m so gay,” in the opening monologue. The Twilight star used this platform to address her identity, following jokes about President Trump’s prior interest in her relationship with Robert Pattinson. Stewart has since married screenwriter Dylan Meyer in 2025. Her candid revelation was motivated by a desire to make the world more accepting and to provide visibility for others who might be struggling.
Why Stewart Chose to Come Out Publicly
In a conversation with ABC News Live Prime host Linsey Davis, Kristen Stewart explained why she opted to reveal her sexuality at that time. She emphasized that it was
“less about sharing the details of my relationship and more so acknowledging that there are people that don’t get full access to being alive because they’re hiding.”
The Spencer star described the pressures she faced, recalling how she was advised that her career might improve if she concealed her romantic life.
Stewart responded firmly to those pressures, saying,
“I was like, ‘So you want me to live a partial life? And you want me to uphold and perpetuate and sustain a system that excludes people?’ And I just can’t do that.”
She pointed out that her relationships were often apparent to those around her, referencing her time with model Stella Maxwell:
“I don’t need to caption this for you.”
Stewart’s Approach to Privacy and Visibility
Despite the common Hollywood lack of privacy, Stewart resisted “commodifying” the personal aspects of her life. She clarified,
“I didn’t want to be part of a comic book,”
highlighting her reluctance to have her identity reduced to entertainment. However, she also felt strongly about refusing to hide her truth given the reality she lived in.
“I want to define it, I want to make it a more open and accepting place. And so I thought it was necessary for me to [come out] – I was already holding my girlfriend’s hand in public.”
She concluded that her public coming out was a significant gesture:
“It felt like a statement that just might unlock other people’s doors.”
Concerns About the Film Industry and Future Plans
Stewart recently expressed uncertainty about continuing to live in the US, especially if President Trump enacts his “terrifying” plan to impose a 100% tariff on films made outside America. Her directorial work on The Chronology of Water, a biographical film about Olympic hopeful Lidia Yuknavitch’s difficult past, was produced in Latvia. Stewart noted the challenges this tariff would create, saying, “I can’t work freely there,” referring to Europe. However, she remains determined to create movies abroad and present them to American audiences, declaring,
“I’d like to make movies in Europe and then shove them down the throat of the American people.”
The Larger Impact of Kristen Stewart’s Coming Out
Kristen Stewart’s decision to come out publicly on a widely viewed platform like SNL transcended personal disclosure; it challenged systems that pressure individuals to hide essential parts of themselves. By doing so, she aimed to foster an environment of openness not only within Hollywood but for people everywhere. Her stance against conforming to restrictive industry expectations underscores the ongoing struggle for genuine representation and acceptance, signaling a shift toward greater inclusivity in the entertainment world and beyond.
