When: Probably the end of 2016 — March 2023
After splitting from Hiddleston (and having a reignited feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West), Swift disappeared almost entirely from the spotlight. She was no longer active on social media, she didn't attend any events, and there were virtually no paparazzi photos of her. But while she laid low professionally, her romantic life was heating up again.
News broke in May 2017 that Swift was dating English actor Alwyn and that their under-the-radar romance had been going on for months. In one of the deluxe versions of "Lover," Swift alluded that they officially started dating sometime around late September/early October 2016. They went on to keep their romance pretty much under the radar from that point on. But Swift did give Alwyn a shout-out during her acceptance speech at the Grammys in 2021. "Joe, who is the first person that I play every single song that I write, and I had the best time writing songs with you in quarantine," she said.
They continued to stay quiet, but Swift also acknowledged him in an Instagram video promoting a song on her new album, "Midnights," called "Lavender Haze." "If the world finds out that you're in love with somebody, they're gonna weigh in on it," she said. "Like my relationship for six years, we've had to dodge weird rumours, tabloid stuff, and we just ignore it. And so this song is sort of about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff."
As Swift kicked off her Eras Tour, a source told People that Alwyn "will travel with her when he can." However, on 7 April, People confirmed that Swift and Alwyn had split after six years of dating.
A source told Entertainment Tonight that their split "was not dramatic." They added "the relationship had just run its course. It's why [Alwyn] hasn't been spotted at any shows."