‘Breaking Dawn’ director asks fans to back off his stars

"Twilight: Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon is asking the franchise's fans to give stars (and former couple) Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart a little breathing room.

The plea comes on the heels of Stewart's cheating scandal, in which she was caught canoodling with "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders. Pattinson has since moved out of the home he shared with Stewart. Condon is apparently worried that fans can't move on themselves.

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

There doesn't appear to be one particular incident that inspired Condon to ask the fans to back off. However, "Twihards" do have a reputation for passion. Following the public split of Pattinson and Stewart, most folks sided with the spurned Pattinson. Online comments ranged from the incredulous ("Kristen Stewart. How. Could. You.") to the factual ("She came clean and is asking for forgiveness.)

Some fans, including this grieving fan, took it the next level and posted impassioned videos online.

Pattinson will make his first post-breakup public appearance on Monday's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." The final film in the "Twilight Saga" hits theaters this November.

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2' Theatrical Trailer