Robert Pattinson is brushing off the criticisms aimed at him.

The British actor, best known for his role as Edward Cullen in the “Twilight Saga,” shared his thoughts on the ongoing backlash against the films during an interview with GQ Spain released on Tuesday.

“I find it interesting that people keep saying, ‘Twilight ruined the vampire genre,'” Pattinson expressed in the translated interview with the Spanish magazine.

Adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s popular young adult novels, the film tells the fantastical love story between Cullen and Bella Swan (portrayed by Kristen Stewart) and broke records with a remarkable $70 million debut at the box office upon its release in November 2008.

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the original film led to four sequels — “New Moon” (2009), “Eclipse” (2010), “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” (2011), and “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” (2012) — collectively earning $3.4 billion worldwide. The passionate yet complicated romance featured a love triangle including Jacob Black, a werewolf played by Taylor Lautner, which spurred fans to choose sides, declaring themselves “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob.”

However, the series faced considerable scrutiny for its unconventional portrayal of vampires. Unlike the terrifying and bloodthirsty creatures found in traditional films and literature, Cullen and his kin avoid drinking human blood. Additionally, Cullen’s skin sparkles in sunlight, rather than burning.

This cultural shift was humorously highlighted in the 2010 parody film “Vampires Suck,” which poked fun at the franchise and went on to earn $80.5 million globally.

In his GQ Spain interview, Pattinson expressed his confusion regarding the ongoing backlash: “How can anyone be upset about something that occurred nearly two decades ago? It’s astonishing.”

Despite the criticisms, the “Twilight Saga” has seen a revival lately. In 2021, all five films entered Netflix’s top 10 most-watched list after being added to the service. Additionally, there’s an animated series based on “Midnight Sun,” a spin-off centered on the Cullen family, currently in the development stages at Netflix.

Pattinson remarked on this newfound interest: “I find it such a compelling phenomenon. I can’t quite wrap my head around it. I think this revival has started in Korea, somewhat similar to how K-pop exploded there, but then captivated a young audience in the West. It’s hard to believe how culturally significant these movies still are, considering how old they are.”

Reflecting on this renewed fascination, Pattinson noted the anxiety he experienced during the peak of the film series’ fame, as mentioned in a 2019 YSL News interview.

“It’s nice now that the frenzy has died down,” he said. “When people approach me, they share warm memories of the films. It’s genuinely heartwarming. The only daunting time was right in the midst of it all when things were at their most intense. Now, the fervor has calmed, and it feels like just cherished memories.”

Contributors: Bryan Alexander, Jenna Ryu, and Patrick Ryan, YSL News