Twilight director: Leave pair alone (From York Press)

Twilight director: Leave pair alone

9:53am Thursday 9th August 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Twilight director Bill Condon has called for fans to show "respect" to Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in the wake of her affair scandal.

Leading lady Kristen sparked an online frenzy after it emerged she had cheated on her co-star R-Patz with Snow White And The Huntsman director Rupert Sanders.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 director Bill has now urged fans of the vampire movie franchise - dubbed Twihards - to leave the pair alone while they work through their issues.

He told Entertainment Weekly: "The fact is, these are actors playing parts, and maybe it's not such a bad thing that people be reminded of that...

"Both of these actors gave heart and soul to the Twilight movies, not only during shooting, but also by navigating so graciously the whole life-in-a-fishbowl aspect of the phenomenon.

"Above all they have always shown great respect for the fans who made these movies such a success. Now it's time that some of that respect be returned to them."

Both stars have kept a low profile since the news broke, with R-Patz apparently seeking solace at his friend Reese Witherspoon's home in Ojai, California.

The British heartthrob is set to give a TV interview to promote his new movie Cosmopolis on Good Morning America on August 15.