After Taylor Swift revealed that her 11th studio album would be released on April 19 at the Grammys, fans have been on a mission to decode any and all Easter eggs.
Swift, for years, has used “Easter eggs” or hidden clues throughout her work to communicate with her Swifties and this album is no different.
For days, social media has been filled with fan theories and red yarn. It’s hard not to imagine the biggest Taylor Swift fans with cork boards on their walls and cut outs of everything Taylor has lived through over the years.
And the picture at the center of that board for a lot of Swifties is Taylor Swift’s ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Prior to their break up, it’s believed Joe and Taylor dated for roughly six years.
However, not much is known about their life together because the former couple kept a very low profile during that time.
Now, fans are theorizing that Taylor’s new album The Tortured Poets Department is a break up album and the songs will finally tell them the story of why Joe and Taylor ended their years long relationship.
@isabellacarrot #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Relatable
For instance, fans were quick to point out that the title of Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department is a direct swipe at a group chat Joe Alwyn was apart of with fellow actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott. In an interview, Alwyn and Mescal talked about the group chat, titled The Tortured Man Club.
In addition to that connection, the track list, which Swift shared publicly on February 5, hosts songs titled So Long, London, the city where she and Joe spent a lot of their time.
@vanityfair Thinking of the “Tortured Man Club” today. #joealwyn #paulmescal #andrewscott #normalpeople #taylorswift #torturedpoetsdepartment ♬ original sound – Vanity Fair
We admit it’s hard not to see the connection ourselves and according to The Daily Mail, Joe sees the interrelation as well.
The Daily Mail alleges that it talked with a source close to Alwyn, who is reportedly “upset” over the soon-to-be released album.
“Joe has not said one word about Taylor or their breakup and has been completely respectful of her,” the source allegedly told The Daily Mail. “It’s undeniable that the name of her upcoming album is in reference to Joe’s WhatsApp group chat.”
The source continued, alleging that “Taylor knocked him for the name of [group chat] 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.”
“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.”
However, the source reportedly continued, addressing the possibility of The Tortured Poets Department being a diss album. “If it is a diss album, that is shady,” the source reportedly claimed.
“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. Regardless of what she does, he will still not respond because he has removed himself from her narrative and is very glad he did.”
The Daily Mail did not say how the source knew these intimate details about Joe’s feelings.
However, despite what the internet is saying about the album. Taylor Swift’s current love interest Travis Kelce has revealed that she has played some of her new music for him and gave it rave reviews.
@extra_tv #TravisKelce reacts to GF #TaylorSwift making history at the #GRAMMYs and reveals he’s heard her new album #TheTorturedPoetsDepartment: “It is unbelievable.” ???? #taylorsversion #taylornation #swiftie #swifties #swifttok #tayvis #swifttok #chiefs #superbowl #chiefskingdom ♬ original sound – ExtraTV
Who else is excited for April 19?