Taylor Swift’s ex Joe Alwyn feels it would be ‘SHADY’ for popstar to diss him in new album The Tortured Poets Department – but is already concerned about what she could reveal because of ‘undeniable’ reference to him in title

Joe Alwyn insiders say he will be ‘shocked’ if his ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift divulges negative details about their relationship in her new album The Tortured Poets Department – and feels it would be ‘shady’ for her to ‘diss’ him in any way given that he’s remained so stoically silent about their split.

Taylor, 34, surprised fans worldwide at the Grammys on Sunday night when she announced during her acceptance speech that her 13th album, The Tortured Poets Department, will be released on April 19.

But while the popstar has formed a reputation for divulging details about her love life in her albums, sources close to Joe, 32, say the actor would be very surprised if her latest release featured any intimate information about their split – although they noted that he does feel the title is in fact a direct reference to their time together.

Taylor announced the title of her new album on-stage and soon after ‘broke the internet’ when she revealed the cover art on her Instagram – sparking a slew of comments from fans speculating that the record could feature one or more brutal digs at Joe.

Although the actor is confident that this won’t happen, the name of the album is said to have raised alarm bells for Joe, who reportedly believes that it is an ‘undeniable’ reference to the WhatsApp group he shares with pals Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott – which is called The Tortured Man Club.

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Joe Alwyn was in a relationship with Taylor Swift for six years before their shock split in early 2023

Taylor fans are convinced the title of her upcoming album could be a brutal nod to the group chat her ex-boyfriend shared with his buddies Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott

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The British actor has never disclosed details about their breakup – and reportedly believes it would be ‘shady’ of her to do so (pictured at the 2020 Golden Globes)

Taylor Swift announces title of her upcoming album at the Grammys

‘Joe has not said one word about Taylor or their breakup and has been completely respectful of her,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

‘It’s undeniable that the name of her upcoming album is in reference to Joe’s WhatsApp group chat.

‘Taylor knocked him for the name of this when they were together. She didn’t want people to think that it had anything to do with her, so when he spoke out about it, she was, of course, bothered.’

The insider continued: ‘Joe has no reason to believe yet that she is going to diss him or their relationship.

‘She writes about her past using code and points of reference. It may just be that she is reflecting on their time together and he is hoping it is nothing more.

‘If it is a diss album, that is shady. He helped her with song writing on her past album so it will really come as a shock to him if she talks about their breakup, as it is something he has not spoken of at all.’

Joe worked with the Blank Space singer on ten of her songs, including Exile from her eighth studio album, Folklore, which won him Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammys. He was also nominated for Evermore.

The source finished: ‘Regardless of what she does, he will still not respond because he has removed himself from her narrative and is very glad, he did.’

Taylor and Joe were in a relationship for six years before their shock split in early 2023.

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After accepting her Grammy award, Taylor made the surprise announcement that her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department is out on April 19

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Taylor and Joe famously kept their relationship out of the spotlight

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Back in 2022, he revealed Fleabag star Andrew, 47, created The Tortured Man Club with him and actor Paul, 28.

‘He’s just on it every day. He’s just on it by himself,’ Paul said of Andrew during an interview with Variety.

Joe jokingly added: ‘Just messaging himself good mornings.’

Taylor announced her album news as she picked up Best Pop Vocal Album at Sunday’s ceremony.

Addressing the audience, she said: ‘Okay, this is my 13th Grammy. Which is my lucky number. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that.

‘I want to say thank you to the members of the Recording Academy for voting this way, but I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans.’

She continued: ‘I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I have been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand-new album comes out April 19.

‘It’s called The Tortured Poet’s Department. I’m going to go and post the cover right now backstage.’

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A source close to Joe claimed the actor would not comment if Taylor was to address their split on her new album

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Joe spoke candidly about his WhatsApp group with Andrew (pictured) and Paul Mescal

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Minutes after she left the stage, the artwork for the new album was shared to her Instagram, with the caption: ‘All’s fair in love and poetry… New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Out April 19 [white heart emoji].’

Joe and Taylor were initially romantically linked in 2016, but famously kept details of their relationship out of the spotlight.

In October 2018, Joe told British Vogue that the secrecy around their relationship was intentional.

‘I’m aware people want to know about that side of things. I think we have been successfully private,’ he said.

Rumors about the couple’s long term plans together were frequent, with sources telling outlets Taylor thought she’d found her soulmate and that she was hoping they would get engaged.

That speculation soared in January 2020 with the release of Netflix’s documentary Miss. Americana, in which she could be seen wearing a large diamond on her ring finger during an interview.

Many thought it was a sure-sign the engagement had finally come to pass, with some even suggesting they had secretly tied the knot.

Three months later Joe addressed the rumors in an interview with WSJ Magazine, saying he wouldn’t confirm them even if they were true.

‘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,’ he said. ‘I mean, the truth is, if the answer was yes, I wouldn’t say, and if the answer was no, I wouldn’t say.’