When Taylor Swift first began dating actor Joe Alwyn more than six years ago, it was almost immediately clear the couple had come to an agreement: Their relationship would be an intimate but private one, and they’d be a united front in protecting that privacy. Gone were the paparazzi photo ops of Swift’s days with Tom Hiddleston, and gooey Instagram pics—like the ones she’d posted with Calvin Harris—would no longer populate her social media. Instead, her accounts would focus on promoting her work and sharing photos of her other loves: cats Olivia, Meredith, and Benjamin.

Still, a love story like Swift and Alwyn’s didn’t stay behind closed doors forever, and since 2020, they’ve been more public about their relationship than ever before. This includes Swift’s confirmation that Alwyn co-wrote two songs on folklore under the pseudonym William Bowery and also helped pen three tracks from Swift’s latest record, evermore. While the couple’s breakup was reported in April 2023, they have a long history that had some very special public moments.

Scroll below for a timeline of their coupledom, leading up to their amicable breakup in spring 2023.

May 2, 2016: They meet at the Met Gala (probably).

Nobody knows for sure when Swift and Alwyn first met. But sleuths have determined that the song “Dress” on her 2017 album Reputation might refer to their first meeting.

The lyrics in question: “Flashback to when you met me, your buzzed cut and my hair bleached.” Swift’s hair was, indeed, bleached at the Met Gala, and Alwyn’s hair was buzzed.

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At the time, Swift was still dating Harris—and this was also the night she met Hiddleston and danced goofily with him in a video that went viral, and later sparked the rebound heard ‘round the world. It was an eventful night for Tay.

Oct. 12, 2016: Swift and Alwyn attend the same Kings of Leon concert.

A month after breaking up with Hiddleston, Swift went to a Kings of Leon show with her friends. Online sleuths have since determined that Alwyn was at the show, too.

Nov. 12, 2016: Swift attends Alwyn’s movie screening.

Swift and a gaggle of squad members went to the premiere of Alwyn’s film, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. If she and Alwyn were dating at this point, it was so under the radar that press coverage of the premiere didn’t even mention his name. It’s not clear if he was in attendance.

Alwyn at the photo call for Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
KRIS CONNOR//GETTY IMAGES

May 16, 2017: Reports emerge that they’re dating.

A source close to the pair told The Sun that Swift and Alwyn had been together for a few months, and that their friends and families were in on it:

“This isn’t a new couple alert or a secret relationship – the only people this has been a secret to is the media because all of us, Taylor and Joe’s closest friends and their families, were aware they have been together for several months and have known each other for a long time.

“After her 1989 tour and all the attention Taylor received, she learned she had to be more protective of her personal life and she and Joe decided early on to keep their private life private.”

June 5, 2017: They’re caught by the paparazzi in Nashville.

The paparazzi finally caught the couple in action: sitting on a balcony in Nashville, where Alwyn was allegedly meeting Swift’s parents for the first time.

July 25, 2017: They’re caught again, this time in New York.

Hoodies pulled tight over their faces, the couple were caught leaving Swift’s apartment.

Swift and Alwyn seemed desperate to go incognito in these pics.

Oct. 20, 2017: Swift tells fans her new single “Gorgeous” is about Alwyn.

Swift hosted a “secret” listening session for her new album, Reputation. She allegedly told fans the single “Gorgeous” is about Alwyn.

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“Basically Taylor made us all promise that if anyone made any accusations of who this song is about, we tell them it is 100 percent about her angel boyfriend of one year,” a fan wrote on Tumblr. “This isn’t a secret. She wanted us to tell people.”

Oct. 27, 2017: Ed Sheeran spills the beans on Alwyn.

On the heels of Swift’s revelation that “Gorgeous” is about Alwyn, her good friend Ed Sheeran was asked about Alwyn on a British radio show.

“He’s really nice,” he said. “Really, really friendly, really good dude.”

Dec. 11, 2017: The couple is spotted snuggling during an Ed Sheeran performance.

Momentarily letting their guard down, Swift and Alwyn engaged in some honest-to-god PDA while Ed Sheeran performed at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Bell Ball in New York City.