Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart Ask To Be Kept Apart For New Moon Promotion?

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have reportedly asked to promote New Moon separately in a bid to avoid whipping gossips into a frenzy over the nature of their relationship.

A new report claims the Twilight co-stars – whose last joint public engagement was the MTV VMAs in September – are keen not to encourage the romance rumours.

Rob at a New Moon press conference in Japan this week

"They've requested to do press separately for the movie," and insider tells the NY Daily News. "They really are good friends - and that's all - but they want to avoid being seen together.

"Any time they're photographed in the same place, the rumor mill just starts all over again, and that makes the paparazzi hound them even more.

"They requested to do things apart so the scrutiny around them will be a little less intense."

The source adds: "Rob and Kristen didn't want to even be in a position where people would assume something."

Kristen gets close to Taylor in Mexico

According to this particular snitch, the pair may have got together had the romance gossip not got in the way.

"Honestly, it makes it very hard for them to even be friends," says the insider. "Maybe there could have been something between them, but it seems like all of the pressure surrounding their relationship has really killed it."

This week Kristen has been on promotional duties with Taylor Lautner in Brazil and Mexico, while Rob has been facing the fans solo in Tokyo, Japan.

Whether or not this set-up was at Rob and Kristen's request, it would surely suit the suits at Summit Entertainment, who are struggling to make the growing closeness between Bella (Kristen) and Jacob (Taylor) in the second movie a believable prospect.

Rob and Kristen in pictures