Taylor Swift Breakup: Why Did Grammy Winner Split With Joe Alwyn?

By BERT HOOVER First Posted: Apr 09, 2023 10:42 PM EDT

After six years together, pop star Taylor Swift and actor Joe Alwyn have reportedly broken up.

A source close to the Grammy-winner told CNN, "Taylor and Joe broke up a few weeks ago. They simply grew apart and plan to remain friends."

Swift and Alwyn were first linked romantically in 2016. The 33-year-old "Anti-Hero" hitmaker and the actor's relationship was initially under wraps, but in typical Taylor Swift style, the singer eventually scattered references to Alwyn through her music.

Swift said in January that "Lavender Haze," a song from her 2022 album "Midnights," was about Alwyn. She said in her Instagram post, "You'll do anything to stay there and not let people bring you down off that cloud," when in a lavender haze of love.

"Like my relationship for six years, we've had to dodge weird rumors, tabloid stuff, and we just ignore it. This song is about ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff," she added.

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Alwyn also received credit on "Midnights" for penning the song "Sweet Nothing." The former couple has also worked together before on songs included in Swift's albums.

Swift's "Folklore" and "Evermore" albums during the 2020 pandemic era feature several tracks for which the 33-year-old British actor was credited under the "William Bowery" pseudonym.

Taylor Swift Ex-Boyfriend Joe Alwyn Missing From the Crowds on Her Eras Tour Concert

Joe Alwyn has been noticeably absent from the crowds since Taylor Swift began her massively successful "Eras Tour" on March 17.

One of the couple's friends told PEOPLE last month that "Joe will travel with her when he can. They are great together. Joe is super supportive of her career, Page Six reported.

According to the report, the couple had always been at the center of engagement rumors throughout their years together.

A ring that appeared to be an engagement ring was even seen on Swift's finger in her 2020 Netflix documentary, "Miss Americana," but the rumors were never confirmed.

Some of their fans believed they secretly got married. However, sources confirmed that they did not.

Taylor Swift Joe Alwyn Relationship

Taylor Swift reportedly began seeing Joe Alwyn a month after she broke up with Tom Hiddleston. Taylor and Hiddleston's relationship ended in September 2016, according to Glamour.

Some reports noted that the singer rented an apartment near Aldwyn's place in London and hid behind disguises to keep their relationship secret.

Swift made their romance public in 2018 by attending a screening of Alwyn's film "The Favourite" and joining him at the after-party.

Alwyn then finally opened up about his relationship with Swift, telling British Vogue, "I'm aware people want to know about that side of things. I think we have been successfully very private, and that has now sunk in for people... but I prefer to talk about work."

Swift went to the Golden Globes in January 2019 to support Alwyn and his "The Favourite" co-stars, nominated for five awards. They also attended a few after-parties together.

Swift skipped Grammys to attend the British Academy Film Awards or BAFTA Film Awards with Alwyn the following month. The couple also went to a few Oscars after-parties later that month.

The former couple showed no signs of having problems throughout the more than six years they had been together.

A Page Six source said their breakup was not "dramatic," adding that the relationship "just ran its course."

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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