It's official: Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn are no longer together. The pop superstar and the British actor have reportedly called it quits after six years of dating, according to multiple sources.
Many fans, who have followed their understated relationship since they first met in 2016 and have been shocked by the news of their breakup. Swift and Alwyn have kept their relationship mostly private, rarely appearing together in public or on social media. However, they have collaborated on some of Swift's music projects, such as her albums Folklore and Evermore, where Alwyn co-wrote some songs under the pseudonym William Bowery.
So what went wrong between the two? According to sources, the breakup was amicable and "it was not dramatic." A source told the outlet that "the relationship had just run its course" and that Alwyn "hasn't been spotted at any shows" during Swift's ongoing Era Tour.
That the breakup took place "a few weeks ago" and that there was no animosity between them was confirmed by a second source to People. The insider claimed that "they still have feelings for one another and respect one another as artists." Over time, "they just grew farther apart."
Some fans have speculated that Swift may have hinted at their breakup during one of her concerts on March 31, when she swapped out her song Invisible String for The 1 from her Folklore album. The song The 1 is about imagining what life would be like if things had worked out with a former lover.
Swift has not commented on the reports of her split with Alwyn, nor has he. The singer is currently busy with her Era Tour, which features a journey through the musical eras of her career. She is set to perform in Tampa, Florida this week with special guests Paramore, Radvxz and Phoebe Bridgers.
Even though Swift and Alwyn were one of Hollywood's less well-known star couples, they still had to cope with rumours, tabloids, and photographers. Alwyn stated that he intended to keep his connection with Swift quiet but didn't mind being questioned about it in a rare interview with British Vogue in 2019.
"I don't think anyone you meet on the streets would just spill their guts out to you, therefore why should I?" he said. "And then that is defined as being 'strangely private'. Fine. But I don't think it is. I think it's normal."
Swift also opened up about her relationship with Alwyn in her documentary Miss Americana, which premiered on Netflix in 2020. She said that she felt "an immediate connection" with him when they met and that he was supportive of her career and personal growth.
"He's one of those people who's incredibly private," she said. "And I think that's why our relationship has been so amazing."
Swift and Alwyn join the list of celebrity couples who have broken up in 2023, such as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, and Billie Eilish and Matthew Tyler Vorce.