Taylor SwiftandJoe Alwynhave reached the end of their love story.
“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,” says the source, noting that “ultimately” Swift, 33, and Alwyn, 32, “weren’t the right fit for one another.”
Reps for Swift and Alwyn have not commented on the breakup.
The “Lavender Haze” musician was first publicly linked to the British actor in May 2017, when it was revealed that the pair had been quietly dating for months. Though it’s not clear exactly when they met,fans have speculatedthat Swift and Alwyn first crossed paths at the 2016 Met Gala.
Joe Alwyn, Taylor Swift.Mike Marsland/WireImage, Terry Wyatt/Getty Images
“They had plenty in common andfell in love in a safe bubblewhile she was retreating from the world duringReputation,” adds the source, referring to Swift’s 2017 studio album. “Then the pandemic hit, and they were locked down together and able to continue growing their relationship in this insulated way. But he didn’t really ‘know’ her yet outside of that bubble.”
Throughout their relationship, the pair kept details of their romance to themselves, demurring on engagement rumors in recent years.
Sources say the pair bonded quickly over shared passions for art and creativity. Indeed, Swift has released 10 songs co-written and/or co-produced with Alwyn, whowrote under the pseudonym William Bowery.The collaborations include six songs onFolklore, three songs onEvermoreand “Sweet Nothing” onMidnights.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Still, insiders say the actor — whoemphasized his need for privacywhen asked about Swift during interviews — didn’t like the limelight.
“Joe has struggled with Taylor’s level of fame and the attention from the public,” says the source. “The differences in their personalities have also become harder to ignore after years together. They’ve grown apart.”
According to multiple sources, Swift and Alwyn had been “talking about marriage as recently as a few months ago.”
But at the end of the day, the couple wasn’t ready for a future together. “Taylor didn’t see them working out in the long run,” says the insider, who adds that the split happened “recently” and was “not dramatic.”
“They are friendly. She doesn’t have anything bad to say about Joe,” adds the insider. “They just grew apart. Taylor is staying very focused on her tour right now.”
Taylor Swift, Joe Alwyn.Jackson Lee/GC Images
Despite the breakup, the source adds, “There is a lot of respect still between them.”
source: people.com
