Joe Alwyn has opened up about his break-up with Taylor Swift, saying that it was “a difficult thing to navigate”.
The Conversations With Friends actor split from the pop star in 2023 following a six-and-a-half-year relationship. Swift briefly dated The 1975 frontman Matty Healy shortly afterwards before getting together with her current boyfriend, NFL footballer Travis Kelce.
During a new interview with The Times, Alwyn addressed the high-profile break-up for the first time. He responded to Entertainment Tonight breaking the story on April 8 last year, when the outlet claimed that the pair had separated “a few weeks” before. According to Alwyn, the timeframe was much shorter.
“I would hope that anyone and everyone can empathise and understand the difficulties that come with the end of a long, loving, fully committed relationship of over six and a half years,” he explained.
“That is a hard thing to navigate. What is unusual and abnormal in this situation is that, one week later, it’s suddenly in the public domain and the outside world is able to weigh in.”
Alwyn continued: “So you have something very real suddenly thrown into a very unreal space: tabloids, social media, press, where it is then dissected, speculated on, pulled out of shape beyond recognition.
“And the truth is, to that last point, there is always going to be a gap between what is known and what is said. I have made my peace with that.”
He went on to say that the former couple had “mutually” agreed to keep the more personal details of their relationship private. “It was never something to commodify and I see no reason to change that now,” Alwyn added.
“And, look, this is also a little over a year ago now and I feel fortunate to be in a really great place in my life, professionally and personally. I feel really good.”
Alwyn did not respond when asked if he had listened to Swift’s latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, on which the singer seemingly delves into her relationships with the actor and Matty Healy.
The interviewer then suggested that this was “the reason to change tack” and speak out. Alwyn replied: “Well, as I said, there’s always going to be a gap between what’s known and what’s said.”
He also wouldn’t talk about whether he was still in touch with Swift or if he was dating currently: “I’m sure you can appreciate, given the level of noise and scrutiny about my past relationship, why I wouldn’t want to just open the door to things like that right now.”
Later, Alwyn was asked about The Black Dog pub in Vauxhall, south London – which inspired a song on the extended ‘Anthology’ edition of ‘Tortured Poets’. The track is thought to address the actor, who lives in the same area as the pub (and inspired 2019’s ‘London Boy’). However, some fans believe it could be about Healy.
“I’ve never been to Vauxhall,” Alwyn said with a smile, the publication noted.
The song ‘So Long, London’ on ‘TTPD’ is thought to be about Swift’s separation from Alwyn.
In April, the aforementioned Black Dog pub reached “max capacity” and was forced to “turn people away” due to a rise in popularity thanks to Swift.
Alwyn earned songwriting credits on Swift’s albums ‘Midnights’, ‘Evermore’ and ‘Folklore’. The actor co-wrote ‘Sweet Nothing’ on the singer’s 10th studio effort under the pseudonym William Bowery.
He was credited under the same name for his contributions to Swift’s 2020 surprise LPs; Alwyn co-wrote ‘Exile’ and ‘Betty’ on ‘Folklore’, as well as ‘Champagne Problems’, ‘Coney Island’ and the ‘Evermore’ title track on its follow-up.
In 2022, Alwyn recalled how he was “messing around” on the piano and was singing what would become the first verse to ‘Exile’ when Swift asked him to help her finish the song.
“It was completely off the cuff, an accident,” he continued. “She said, ‘Can we try and sit down and get to the end together?’ And so we did. It was as basic as some people made sourdough [in lockdown].”
Earlier this month, it was reported that Matty Healy had been “blindsided” by Swift’s most recent album, but found it “hilarious” as the pair were “never serious”. Healy is now engaged to model Gabbriette Bechtel, as confirmed last week.
Swift, meanwhile, is currently on the UK and Ireland leg of her huge ‘Eras Tour’. She’ll take to the stage at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff tomorrow night (June 18) ahead of three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium (21, 22, 23).
Three concerts in Dublin are scheduled for next week (28, 29, 30). Swift will return to Wembley in August for an additional five sold-out concerts at the venue. Paramore are supporting the star on the UK, Ireland and European dates.
Last month, it was reported that the ‘Eras Tour’ would boost the UK economy by £1billion.
In a five-star review of the first gig in Edinburgh, NME wrote: “The ringleader of the entire ‘Eras Tour’ shepherds us through with razor precision, an utter pro whose energy doesn’t waiver throughout.
“And even among the meticulously rehearsed and choreographed performance which runs like clockwork, she finds pockets of humour and moments to connect with the crowd.”