FOR six years straight, the whole world knew him as Mr Taylor Swift.

But during that time, Joe Alwyn seemed to do everything possible to stay out of the spotlight – despite being in a relationship with the biggest star in the music industry. Here’s what we know about their time together.

5

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn were together for six years before breaking upCredit: Getty

When were Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn together?

The couple began dating in October 2016, shortly after Taylor split from Hollywood movie star Tom Hiddleston in September of that year.

Their secret relationship was revealed in The Sun in May 2017, a year after they met at the Met Gala, the annual A-list fashion event in New York City.

The couple were extremely tight-lipped about their romance during its duration — even refusing to confirm or deny engagement rumours.

“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,” Joe told the Wall Street Journal 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.”

Joe also helped write songs on her albums Folklore and Evermore under the pseudonym William Bowery.

He is said to be the inspiration for her song London Boy.

How old was Taylor Swift when she got with Joe Alwyn?

Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989, and Joe on February 21, 1991.

This means when they got together in October 2016, the singer was 28 and he was 26.

When they broke up, Taylor was 33.

Travis Kelce makes sly ‘private’ dig at Taylor Swift’s ex Joe Alwyn – and shares moment singer ‘won him over’

When did Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn break up?

On April 9, 2023, Swifties were left shocked when it was revealed that Taylor had split from Joe.

Entertainment Tonight was the first to report the shocking news citing an unnamed source which was then confirmed by People.

“It was not dramatic,” ET was told. “The relationship had just run its course.

“It’s why [Joe] hasn’t been spotted at any shows.”

Swifties went into meltdown as one posted: “I am choosing to not believe Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn broke up.”

“Me pretending not to care about Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn broke up cuz I know it wasn’t true,” wrote another fan.

5

Taylor and Joe had ‘differences in personalities’Credit: Splash News
“April fools was last week,” wrote a third.

Since then, Taylor has been in the public eye with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

In October 2024, rumours swirled that Joe was dating Kendall Jenner, but nothing ever came of it.

He’s currently not publicly known to be dating anyone.

Speaking about their relationship in January 2025, he told The Observer: “I have tried just to focus on controlling what I can control.

“And, right from the beginning, tried to focus on the things that are meaningful for me: friends, family, work, of course.

5

Joe has broken his silence after appearing in The BrutalistCredit: WireImage
“So noise outside of that, I think I’ve done what lots of people who find themselves in the public eye do, which is just try and ignore it.”

Since starring as Harry in Oscar-nominated movie The Brutalist, Joe has been seen more and more in the public eye.

Why did Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn break up?

Multiple sources revealed the break-up came down to “differences in personalities”.

At the time of their split, a source told People: “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.

And I’ll forget you, but I’ll never forgive the smallest man who ever lived

Taylor SwiftThe Tortured Poets Department

The insider added: “Ultimately they weren’t the right fit for one another.”

Joe is said to be quite introverted, while Taylor is a global superstar.

5

Taylor has savaged ex Joe on her new album The Tortured Poets DepartmentCredit: Getty

What has Taylor Swift said about Joe Alwyn on The Tortured Poet’s Department album?

Fans dissected Taylor’s 11th album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, which came out in April 2024.

They think that one song suggests someone cheated by messaging other people, with the guilty party accused of “sliding into inboxes”.

The savagely titled tune, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, features scathing words including: “And you’ll confess why you did it . . . And I’ll say good riddance. ’Cos it wasn’t sexy once it wasn’t forbidden.

“You didn’t measure up in any measure of a man. I would have died for your sins but instead I just died inside.”

Taylor goes on: “You deserve prison, but you won’t get time. You will slide into inboxes and slip through the bars.”

She also jibes: “In plain sight you hid but you are what you did. And I’ll forget you, but I’ll never forgive the smallest man who ever lived.”

5

The Tortured Poets Department’s name is believed to have been taken from a WhatsApp group ex Joe was in
On the album, Taylor also sings about how an ex-partner had called her the “love of his life” and they discussed marriage and children.

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart documented her struggles as she embarked on her record-breaking Eras World tour less than four weeks after they broke up.

She sings: “Breaking down I hit the floor, all the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting ‘more!’.

“I was grinning, like I’m winning. I was hiding my marks, ’cos I can do it with a broken heart.”

The album is believed to have been named after a WhatsApp group Joe was in with fellow actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal.

Timeline of Taylor and Joe’s Relationship

The couple had six years together, much of which they tried to keep a secret.

Here we take a look at the timeline of their romance:

May 2016: Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn first meet at the Met Gala.
October 2016: The pair first start dating but keep it a secret.
May 2017: The Sun reveals the singer and actor are a couple.
May 2018: Joe supports Taylor on the opening night of her Reputation Tour,
August 2019: The singer says her relationship with Joe “isn’t up for discussion”.
January 2020: Joe appears in Taylor’s Netflix documentary.
November 2020: The singer confirms that Joe Alwyn was her co-writer on Folklore.
March 2021: Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn win a Grammy Award for Folklore.
April 20, 2022: Joe denies the rumours that he and Taylor are engaged.
April 2023: The couple break up after six years together.