Following Taylor Swift‘s announcement of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, theories arose among Swifties that the record‘s title may be a pointed reference to her ex boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.
At the 2024 Grammy Awards earlier this week, the “Anti-Hero” singer, 34, revealed that her 11th studio LP is on its way, and also unveiled its title.
Naturally, the “Cruel Summer” hitmaker’s devoted fan base swiftly deciphered the possible muse for the project’s name, and continue to share why they think it could be a direct “dig” at Alwyn, 32.
Fan Theories Suggest That Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets' Album Title Is A 'Dig' At Joe Alwyn
Ever since the announcement of The Tortured Poets Department, fans have been circulating a rediscovered video of a 2022 interview in which Alwyn engages in a discussion with Normal People actor Paul Mescal. The two talk about their membership in a group chat with Fleabag star Andrew Scott titled "The Tortured Man Club."
"So what's the name of the WhatsApp group we're in?" Mescal, 28, asked Alwyn in the Variety video, adding, "Tortured..." Alwyn then replied: "It's either 'The Tortured' or 'The Lonely,'" before correcting himself: "'The Tortured Man Club,' I think."
The Conversations with Friends alum then added: ""It hasn't had much use recently." Mescal then noted: "No, I feel like we're less tortured now."
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While accepting her 13th Grammy Award on February 4th, Swift told the audience: "My brand-new album comes out April 19th. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m gonna go and post the cover right now backstage."
Swift and Alwyn were romantically linked from late 2016 to March 2023 and together for about six years. Swift also recently shared the track list for her forthcoming album, and some song titles stuck out to fans on X (formerly Twitter).
For example, the fifth song is titled, "So Long London," and many presume that this is about bidding adieu to her romance with Alwyn (as they spent so much time in his native city together). "Taylor swift’s ex joe alwyn is from london. her track london boy and now a new track called so long, london," one fan tweeted.
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On April 19, 2023, many fans noticed last year that Swift's famous friends (including Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds) unfollowed Alwyn on social media.
Another fan tweeted, regarding the April 19th Tortured Poets release date: "The great unfollowing of Joe Alwyn happened after a dinner w/TS and friends that took place April 19, 2023. The Tortured Poets Department release date April 19, 2024. This is not a coincidence. Remember the name of the WhatsApp group chat Alwyn was in."
Swifties on Reddit have also observed that Alwyn, prior to his relationship with Swift, utilized a Soundcloud account to recite poetry. "Fun fact joe alwyn has a soundcloud where he reads poetry," one user recently shared as another tweeted: "ITS A POETRY ALBUM BECAUSE JOE ALWYN ONLY DOES ARTSY POETIC FILMS AND HELPED HER WRITE FOLKMORE, HER MOST POETIC ALBUMS."
This week, an insider sat down with The Daily Mail, and reportedly discussed Alwyn's thoughts on Swift's Tortured Poets Department.
According to the source, Alwyn has no intention of publicly addressing the matter and hopes that the album will not divulge too much about his relationship with the "Lavender Haze" songwriter.
"Joe has not said one word about Taylor or their breakup and has been completely respectful of her. It’s undeniable that the name of her upcoming album is in reference to Joe’s WhatsApp group chat," the source said.
"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," they went on.
"Joe has no reason to believe yet that she is going to diss him or their relationship," the insider continued. "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 songwriting on her past album [under pseudonym William Bowery on the 2020 records Folklore and Evermore] 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," the source dished. "Regardless of what she does, he will still not respond because he has removed himself from her narrative and is very glad he did."
As April 19th approaches, we'll be on the lookout for additional Easter eggs...
