When Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn's six-and-a-half-year relationship reportedly ended on April 8, 2023, fans were taken aback. The confusion grew when, less than a month later, news of Taylor's new relationship with Matty Healy, frontman of The 1975, surfaced. This new romance was first reported on May 3, following Taylor's surprise appearance at The 1975's London concert on January 12. Fans began to speculate that Taylor's October 2022 album, Midnights, hinted at a breakup with Joe, suggesting their relationship had ended well before the public announcement.
Adding to the intrigue, the announcement of the split coincided with Matty's birthday, leading fans to theorize that Taylor intentionally timed the news as a gesture to her new partner. After maintaining his silence for over a year, Joe addressed the timeline in an interview with the Sunday Times's Style magazine. He diplomatically discussed the challenges of ending a long-term relationship, stating, "I would hope that anyone and everyone can empathize and understand the difficulties that come with the end of a long, loving, fully committed relationship of over six and a half years. That is a hard thing to navigate.
Joe then clarified that their breakup occurred just a week before it became public, highlighting the unusual nature of their private matters quickly entering the public sphere. Taylor and Joe had started dating in the fall of 2016, after Taylor's brief retreat from the public eye following a high-profile feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Despite Taylor's return to the spotlight in 2017, the couple remained committed to keeping their relationship private, a decision they mutually agreed upon, as Taylor mentioned in her 2020 Netflix documentary, Miss Americana.
In his interview with Style magazine, Joe Alwyn emphasized their mutual decision to keep their relationship private. He firmly stated, “As everyone knows, we together — both of us, mutually — decided to keep the more private details of our relationship private. It was never something to commodify, and I see no reason to change that now.”
Taylor Swift's music often provides insights into her personal life, and some fans believe that her relationship with Joe started experiencing difficulties as early as the winter of 2021. In May of the previous year, Taylor released the song "You’re Losing Me," which describes someone desperately wanting their partner to fight for the relationship but feeling neglected instead. The song hints that marriage was a sensitive topic, with the lyrics, “I wouldn’t marry me either.”
Taylor’s close friend and collaborator, Jack Antonoff, disclosed that "You’re Losing Me" was written and recorded on December 5, 2021, long before her breakup with Joe. This timeline aligns with the lyrics of Taylor’s 2024 song "Fresh Out the Slammer," where she reflects on a relationship that deteriorated during the winter: “Splintered back in winter, silent dinners, bitter.”
In October 2022, Taylor released her album Midnights, which features songs suggesting she was growing weary of the low-key lifestyle she had been living and feeling discontented in her relationship. In the single "Bejeweled," Taylor speaks about suppressing her own shine for the sake of her relationship, while also warning that she could easily reclaim her former glory.
The Midnights (3am Edition) track "The Great War" reveals her fears of betrayal and how they impacted her treatment of her partner, though the song concludes on a hopeful note, celebrating their survival of these challenges. Another track, "Labyrinth," suggests their relationship was more complex than it appeared, with Taylor singing about her resignation to its end, only to be surprised by her partner's renewed effort to save it: “I thought the plane was going down / How’d you turn it right around?”
These lyrical themes offer a window into the evolving dynamics of Taylor and Joe’s relationship, as interpreted by fans and critics alike.
In her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift's lyrics suggest that Matty Healy began reentering her life while she was still with Joe Alwyn. For context, Taylor and Matty were first linked romantically in 2014, and many fans believe that their relationship has been on-and-off since then.
In the song "Guilty as Sin?", Taylor sings about fantasizing about someone else while in a relationship, starting with the lyrics: “Drowning in the Blue Nile / He sent me 'Downtown Lights,’” referencing "The Downtown Lights" by the Blue Nile, a song known to be one of Matty's favorites. She continues to describe her dissatisfaction in her current relationship, singing: “My bedsheets are ablaze / I’ve screamed his name / Building up like waves / Crashing over my grave.”
Taylor made a surprise appearance at The 1975's London concert on January 12, 2023, performing her hit "Anti-Hero" and a cover of The 1975's "The City." She and Matty appeared to be on good terms, with Taylor even posing backstage with his mother, Denise Welch. It has since been revealed that Taylor was still officially with Joe Alwyn during this time, with their breakup not reported until April 8.
The song "Fresh Out the Slammer" from The Tortured Poets Department talks about Taylor "running" to someone new right after ending a relationship, implying that Matty was her first call after breaking up with Joe. She further suggests that Matty "stole" her from Joe in the track "loml," where she sings: “Mr. Steal Your Girl, then make her cry.”
Marriage seems to have been a contentious topic in Taylor and Joe's relationship, a theme she explores in "So Long, London," believed to be about Joe: “You swore that you loved me, but where were the clues? / I died on the altar waiting for the proof.” In "loml," she hints that Matty exploited this sensitive issue, singing: “You shit-talked me under the table, talking rings and talking cradles.”
In the title track, "The Tortured Poets Department," Taylor details a moment when Matty symbolically took a ring from her middle finger and placed it on her ring finger, singing: “At dinner, you take my ring off my middle finger and put it on the one / People put wedding rings on, and that's the closest I've come / To my heart exploding.” These lyrics paint a vivid picture of the complicated dynamics and emotional shifts between Taylor, Joe, and Matty.
Taylor Swift and Matty Healy's relationship was first reported on May 3. That evening, Matty was seen mouthing the words, "This is about you. You know who you are. I love you," during his concert. Fans noted that Taylor echoed these exact words during her May 5 Eras show in Nashville. Throughout May, Matty was frequently spotted in the VIP friends and family section at Taylor's concerts and even joined Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor’s opening act, on stage. The two were often seen together, holding hands and kissing, with Matty frequently visiting Taylor’s New York City apartment.
Despite the public displays of affection, their relationship quickly attracted controversy due to Matty's history of problematic behavior, including making a Nazi salute on stage and a disturbing comment about his sexual fantasies involving Black women. Despite backlash from her fans, Taylor remained publicly supportive of Matty. However, on June 5, reports surfaced that they had ended their relationship.
In her album The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor hints that Matty "ghosted" her and refers to him as “the smallest man who ever lived” in a fiery breakup song, questioning his motives for their relationship. Shortly after their split, Taylor started dating NFL star Travis Kelce in July. Matty began dating Gabbriette Bechtel in September, and they recently announced their engagement. Joe Alwyn, on the other hand, has remained single since his split from Taylor 14 months ago.
The swift and intense romance between Taylor Swift and Matty Healy was as public as it was controversial, marked by high-profile appearances and fan speculation. Despite initial displays of mutual affection and support, their relationship was short-lived, ending amidst public scrutiny and personal revelations. Taylor's subsequent music and personal choices reflect her processing of the whirlwind affair, ultimately leading to new chapters in her life and relationships. As Taylor moved on with Travis Kelce and Matty with Gabbriette Bechtel, Joe Alwyn has remained out of the public eye, marking the end of a significant and transformative period for all involved.