Joe Alwyn broke up with Taylor Swift as he had 'difficulty coping with her high level of fame'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have called it quits after six years of dating. According to a report by People, the couple's split was due to "differences in their personalities." A source close to the former couple revealed to People on April 10, "They've had rough patches before and always worked things out, so friends thought they would take some time apart but eventually come back together. But ultimately, they weren't the right fit for one another."
The insider further added that, "Joe has struggled with Taylor's level of fame and the attention from the public. The differences in their personalities have also become harder to ignore after years together. They've grown apart." Despite the breakup, Swift and Alwyn were reportedly "talking about marriage as recently as a few months ago." However, the 'Lavender Haze' singer didn't see their relationship working out in the long run. The source also revealed that the two remain 'friendly' and have a lot of respect for each other. In the words of the source, "There is a lot of respect still between them."
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Taylor Swift added breakup song 'The 1' to Eras Tour setlist days before split with Joe Alwyn
Is Taylor Swift single now? Singer breaks up with actor BF Joe Alwyn after six years of relationship
Swift-Alwyn split and changes in tour setlist
On April 8, Entertainment Tonight reported that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn had split several weeks ago, with sources citing that their relationship had simply "run its course." As a result, Alwyn has not been present at any of Swift's Eras Tour shows, which began on March 18.
Fans have since noticed changes in Swift's setlist during her performances on the tour, with her initially singing 'Invisible String' from her album 'Folklore,' which is about the connection between two lovers. However, since her show in Texas on March 31, she has instead played 'The 1,' which is about a breakup and includes lyrics about 'waking up alone.' Some fans have also claimed to see Swift becoming emotional while performing the breakup song 'Champagne Problems' from her album 'Evermore' in the aftermath of their rumored split.
Inside their relationship
Swift and Alwyn were first linked romantically in 2017, and while there has been speculation that they met at the 2016 Met Gala, this has not been confirmed. According to a source, the couple fell in love while Swift was retreating from the world during the making of her 2017 album, 'Reputation', and had plenty in common. During the pandemic, the couple was able to continue growing their relationship in an insulated way as they were locked down together.
However, the source notes that Joe didn't really get to know Taylor outside of their bubble. Joe Alwyn has been a strong support system for Taylor Swift, even professionally. Alwyn was credited as William Bowery on several of Swift's tracks, including six songs from the album 'Folklore', three from 'Evermore', and 'Sweet Nothing' from 'Midnights'. Swift's song 'London Boy' from 2019 is rumored to be about Alwyn, as is the song 'Dress' from her 2017 album 'Reputation'. Swift and Alwyn kept their relationship details private throughout their six years together, and rumors circulated last year that the couple was engaged. However, neither party confirmed or denied the reports.