As one of the main apparent subjects of Taylor Swift‘s latest album, it’s no surprise that fans are looking for clues about Joe Alwyn‘s Tortured Poets Department reaction. The British actor, who dated the pop super star from 2016 to 2023, has yet to comment publicly on his ex-girlfriend’s latest body of work. However, a new report by People is giving us a pretty good idea of how Swift’s former flame is handling all of the recent press surrounding the rumored songs about him on TTPD.
According to the report, Alwyn “intentionally” kept his six-year relationship with Swift out of the public eye—so it’s likely safe to assume that the heightened media attention isn’t something the 33-year-old actor is all too pleased about. A source who spoke to the outlet explained that Alwyn always wanted his romance with Swift to be “his own personal story” despite the constant public interest in their relationship. The insider also noted that while his relationship with Swift “took a lot of people by surprise” among his personal circle, the actor still “wasn’t showing off in some way.”
However, Swift’s latest album doesn’t take these privacy concerns into consideration. While the pop star doesn’t name any names, there are several songs on The Tortured Poets Department—released on April 19, 2024—that appear to reference her relationship with Alwyn. On “So Long, London,” Swift sings about a relationship on its last legs. “I stopped CPR, after all it’s no use / The spirit was gone, we would never come to / And I’m pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free,” she sings on the track. Later on the album, Swift shares how lonely she felt as her romance fell apart: “Another summer taking cover / Rolling thunder, he don’t understand me / Splintered back in winter / Silent dinner, bitter he was with her in dreams.”
Swift and Alwyn reportedly met at the 2016 Met Gala, where they were both attendees. However, the couple didn’t confirm their relationship until late 2017, keeping a low profile with few public appearances and limited social media interactions. Alwyn supported Swift creatively throughout their relationship, having contributed to several of her albums—including Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights—under the pseudonym William Bowery. He reportedly co-wrote songs like “Exile,” “Betty,” and “Champagne Problems.”
Despite their connection, Alwyn and Swift maintained a notoriously private relationship, choosing not to discuss their romance publicly. “If I had a pound for every time I think I’ve been told I’ve been engaged, then I’d have a lot of pound coins,” Alwyn told WSJ. Magazine in April 2022. “I mean, the truth is, if the answer was yes, I wouldn’t say, and if the answer was no, I wouldn’t say,” the Conversations with Friends star added at the time.
The pair ultimately called it quits in early 2023, with sources telling People that they “ultimately weren’t the right fit for one another” and chalking up their split to personality differences. Since their breakup, Swift has been linked to The 1975 frontman, Matt Healy, and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, who she continues to date now as she performs around the world for her Eras Tour. Alwyn, for his part, is getting ready for the premiere of his latest film, Kinds of Kindness.
