Joe Alwyn is great for Taylor Swift because he doesn’t mind that she has opinions

Cute couple Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn leaving the BAFTA party at Annabel's

I’ve gotten to the point where I believe in Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn as a couple and I wish them well. I truly hope they are engaged and planning a quiet wedding and that Taylor is happy with him. What bugs me – a little bit – is the PR around the relationship though. In interviews to promote Lover, Taylor has done a good job of drawing a line about what she’ll discuss about Joe. Then we have the lyrics which are so clearly about him and their love. All of that is fine. But then the added layer is all of the leaks to People Magazine about how great Joe is for her because he’s, like, there. He’s great because he doesn’t mind that she’s rich and super-successful. He’s great because he doesn’t mind that she has opinions. Are we really setting the bar this low?

Taylor Swift previously faced backlash for staying silent on political and social issues, but the superstar is no longer shying away from speaking out. As Swift approaches her 30th birthday in December, insiders say the Grammy winner is also standing strong when she feels she’s been taken advantage of.

“The situation with Scooter is still upsetting to her. She just finds it all so wrong,” a source close to Swift, who has been vocal about her intentions to re-record her earlier albums following the music manager’s $300 million purchase of her former label Big Machine, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

And though she’s made it clear her relationship with boyfriend Joe Alwyn is off-limits to the public, behind the scenes the star has found a strong support in the British actor.

“Joe’s personality is great for Taylor. He is very calm and always very supportive,” says the source. “He’s sympathetic and understanding and supports her speaking out about things that she doesn’t agree with…There’s something refreshing and different about their relationship. Joe makes Taylor very happy, and it’s hard to picture her not spending the rest of her life with him. Her family loves him. He seems older than he is and is a fantastic guy”

Continuing to be on the same page about keeping their relationship private, Swift and Alwyn, 28, are seemingly in it for the long haul. “Joe loves acting but doesn’t want to be a celebrity. They both agree that for their relationship to keep working, they want to keep things more quiet,” says the source. “She’s the happiest she’s ever been.”

[From People]

“He seems older than he is…” He’s 28 (29 in February 2020) and Taylor will be 30 in December. It’s not some huge age difference, and Taylor had already established that she likes ‘em younger (Harry Styles, Conor Kennedy). But spare me the “he’s old for his age/mature for his age” comments. As for Joe being supportive and all that… again, this is how low the bar has been set. He’s a great guy because he’s not actively trying to get her to STFU. My question: did Taylor ever have a boyfriend who told her that she shouldn’t have opinions? I’m trying to think. Maybe Jake Gyllenhaal? But Tom Hiddleston, Calvin Harris, all of those other guys – they too would have been “supportive” of Taylor having opinions.

Taylor Swift wearing Atelier Versace arrives at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards

Joe Alwyn is seen outside the Gold Meets Golden Event

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

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71 Responses to “Joe Alwyn is great for Taylor Swift because he doesn’t mind that she has opinions”

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  1. CharliePenn says:

    They are both extremely boring to me in the looks department. Yes, she’s beautiful and he’s handsome. But they are like Barbie and Ken to me. Just nothing to hold my interest. Which is fine of course, for normal people. But as celebrities it’s odd how boring they come across as.

    • rainflowers says:

      I always laugh when people say she’s a good role model because she isn’t sexualised. It’s certainly not from lack of trying, it’s simply that she has absolutely no sexual energy. He’s the same.

    • rainflowers says:

      Also, I don’t really see her as beautiful. Her face always looks like a Kewpie doll or a Persian cat or something.

  2. Luna says:

    He looks like a serial killer.

  3. Rhys says:

    I dated a guy who was as pretty as this Alwyn guy and it was so strange – women STARED at him. Everywhere we went, every restaurant or a busy sidewalk, women of all ages looked visibly stunned. It was quite an experience.

    • no no says:

      He isn’t pretty. Dude has face in 2D and eyes of serial killer. And has zero personality.

      • Kebbie says:

        I don’t think he’s pretty either. James Marsden is pretty. Chris Pine is pretty. Nicholas Hoult is pretty. Joe Alwyn is not. Definitely not gorgeous as she says. Maybe she thinks that because he looks like her and a lot of people are attracted to people that look like them. Ultimately though, it only really matters what she thinks because she’s the one waking up next to him.

    • KL says:

      He has the kind of good looks which function to other people as a blank slate — it’s the ultimate in symmetry and “”””ideal””” coloring, instead of unique attributes or expressiveness of character. I’ve been out and about with people like that, and yeah, the effect it can have on strangers is spectacular, not even just because of their attractiveness but how that style of good looks avails itself to “project your idea of the perfect partner here” onto it as well. (But then others call it boring because they’re used to men, especially, creating attractiveness from charm or personality rather than just genetic luck.)

      • Mash says:

        @KL that must be a white or white admiring thing.

        People of color ( I’m black) don’t dying taylor and this blond dude “coloring” genetically lucky or visually stunning🤣🤣🤣

        Honestly this comment sounded like intro Eugenicist academic journal submission from 1904 🙄

  4. Chef Grace says:

    Why be so tacky and negative on Joe. Gossip can turn ugly so quickly.
    To me he looks normal. Not pretty nor ugly just a regular Joe😉

    • minx says:

      I don’t get it either. They’ve been together for awhile, there must be something keeping them together.

    • horseandhound says:

      absolutely. he is okay looking. handsome enough. the rest is about the compatibility, the chemistry, etc.

    • AnnaKist says:

      I’m with you, Chef Grace. He looks normal to me, too. Too pretty, nut normal. I’ve never understood this idea of “his eyes are too close together”, “his chin is too small”, “ her lips are too thin” etc., therefor he/she is not to be trusted.It’s complete bollocks. Can we not just say, “Oh, well. Good luck to them”?

    • Carol says:

      Yeah, I don’t get the criticism directed at the couple. They seem fine to me.

    • KathDay says:

      Because this site is literally named CeleBITCHY.

  5. DS9 says:

    I refuse to believe the other dudes she dated had issues with her having opinions. It’s far more likely they got tired of Taylor’s me driven narratives, if she didn’t get tired of them first.

    Joe is probably content to let Taylor be the alpha in the relationship and good on her/them for finding a partnership that works for them.

    He looks a bit like a baby Baryshnikov.

    • Camille says:

      History revision much ? Calvin has a giant ego and clearly lost his marbles when they broke up including not wanting the world to know she wrote one of his biggest hits. And if I were to guess this isn’t about Hiddleston ( who I suspect most of the people thrashing alwyn are fans of) but about him. Because not only is he someone who is known to have a big ego and not exactly a feminist but also the only guy she had a long enough relationship with for this to be a problem.

      • Léna says:

        Mmh didn’t Taylor wrote the Calvin song using a surname and after the breakup tried to change it to let everyone know she actually was one of the writer?;

      • jammypants says:

        I think this is revisionist too. She wanted to stay anonymous so she used a fake Swedish name. Then all of a sudden she wanted credit after they broke up. He made it clear he was honoring her wishes.

      • no no says:

        Look who is rewriting history here. Tay Tay and her minions are so good at it. So a BF, who she said that was a rebound and DGAF about, was a bad guy. It is her narrative – always a victim. Her all RS was so abusive, her exes was an as*oles. This is why she din’t spoke about politices, nazie fans, gays etc. Becouse her mean exes forbiden her.
        This guy is bland and is perfect submisive. Tay Tay lives in her plastic fantastic TayTayland, where she is a center of a universe and is surrounded with only yes people. She can’t stand when someone doesn’t worship her and has own opinion. She is a bullie who is rewriting history all the time. Just like her fans.

      • Purplehazeforever says:

        Calvin didn’t get angry because Taylor revealed she wrote the lyrics to whatever that song was. He got angry because he was made to look like the bad guy when he wasn’t this time. She wanted to write the lyrics anonymously & then chose to reveal she wrote it. Calvin didn’t tell her to, he wasn’t trying to deprive her of anything. Taylor manipulated the situation. Full stop.

      • Camille says:

        Sigh.Funny how you become “Taylor’s minion” if you point out that Calvin is problematic. He had a massive meltdown when him and Ora broke up that mirrored his behaviour during the Taylor break up. He acted very controlling to Ora and controlled her even after they broke up by blocking her from performing the single they made together or releasing an entire album they’d recorded. He couldnt do that to Taylor but attempted to ridicule her work without mentioning the fact his then number 1 hit was written by her. Which was when she revealed she was behind the pseudonym.
        I get that you dislike Taylor I find her pretty bland myself but that doesn’t stop me from seeing that some men are threaten by strong or successful women and that results in controlling behaviour.

    • Div says:

      Pretty sure Calvin has a history of being a f*ckboi…he blocked Rita Ora from releasing an album that he co-produced because they had a bad break up. Like he wouldn’t sign off…I can’t remember who it was, but some big singer got pissed and called him out for claiming her team wanted him to produce her work.

      • Detriotgirl says:

        Yeah, Calvin is a grade A fuckboi tbh. The reason Taylor revealed that she had written that song was because Calvin gave an interview in which he laughed at the idea that he would ever work with her, as if she was beneath him, when in reality he had a number one song because of her. And yes, he blocked Rita Ora’s entire album because he’s a petty jerk. I’m no Taylor Stan, but I have no sympathy for Calvin either. I can definitely see him being the ex that didn’t want her to have opinions.

      • Jadedone says:

        Totally agree Div and Detriotgirl, I was into Rita’s music for a minute and I remember Calvin being so bitter after their breakup that he wouldn’t let her release her music. That’s some grade A controlling bull right there

      • Gingerbread says:

        Rita Ora cheated on him! I would 100% be that salty if I wrote/produced for my bf and then I found out he was cheating on me. You think I would want him to reap the benefits from me after that? Nah, let’s be real, most of us wouldn’t.

    • DS9 says:

      Man, there are a whole lot of replies to something I didn’t say.

      Obviously people break up when their opinions, visions, paths in life clash.

      But that’s vastly different than the Swift position that baby Joe over here is like totes the first guy to be okay with Tay Tay having independent thoughts and opinions on her own, yanno like any other grown adult in a relationship. So were ALL these other dudes, including Connor the infant, forcing her into an image they created for her? Please.

      Also, I alluded to Calvin Harris’s ego when I mentioned Taylor being the alpha in a relationship.

    • maisie says:

      Holy crap. It’s 2019, and men are still congratulating themselves over “not minding” if their girlfriends “have opinions.” Guess what, asshats: women are human beings with functioning brains, and THEY HAVE OPINIONS AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEM FREELY IN THE US AND THE UK NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK. Are these men Amish? Mormon? Scientologists? Who the hell raised them, sister-wives? This is so offensive I can’t even.

      Last time I looked, Swift had about eleventy billion dollars. Why does she even need these bozos?

      • Amy says:

        Honestly? 45 here, dating off and on (not a big priority for me). I come from a conservative background, but don’t date that way. And, yes, finding a guy who wants me to have opinions (that are different from his), be an independent person (I live overseas and travel alone a lot, which freaks USA guys out COMPLETELY), and have authority in business (I run a nonprofit)…well, yeah, there are very few guys out there okay with all of that. Not like they would say it outloud, but it turns them off. I’m guessing the source’s comment was possibly motivated by some other messaging Taytay wants out there, but I find it real, and a problem. (For reference, there is a great series that Death, Sex, and Money podcast did last summer on dating. The single gal who got turned down for a blind date, literally because the guy saw on her FB profile that she traveled internationally….that’s happened to me more than once. UGH. Just sad.)

  6. Leriel says:

    Honestly speaking, if they were reversed genders, nobody said a word that he is supportive, and she is more active and famous (and I can’t believe that right now I’m kinda referencing to her stupid song “The man”).

    • Ali says:

      If he wants to be the wind beneath her wings, that’s his choice to make, but even (especially) for women who make that choice, I don’t think it’s a great one.

      • Leriel says:

        I agree. Judging everything “leaked” to the press about them relationships look like Taylor is more active, and Joe is just there, supportive one. It doesn’t perform as partnership, where both are equally supportive for each other. But that’s just Taylor’s narrative: she is active working princess, and he’s “you’re doing amazing sweetie” with camera, like Kris Jenner from that meme.
        Actually, their relationships’ narrative reminds me one that Mattel writes for Barbie and Ken. Barbie is glamorous blonde chick, who works and parties in her totally pink wardrobe, and Ken is just there, every time when she needs him.

  7. Victoria says:

    I’ve seen Joe in 2 movies and I thought he was good in both. He does well in period dramas.

    Taylor seems more quiet about this guy or I just don’t pay attention to her 🤷🏻‍♀️

    • minx says:

      I never thought about him one way or another until I saw The Favourite—he was quite good in that. His still pictures don’t do him justice, I thought he was very good looking in the movie.

      • Victoria says:

        Same! I thought he was a hottie in The Favourite.

        I watched Mary, Queen of Scots, he was hot with a scruffy beard although it was a terrible movie

  8. Nicole says:

    I think Taylor knows she was the “bad guy” in the Tom Hiddleston situation. If you want to use her song lyrics as a guide, GETAWAY CAR pretty much says that she used him for a specific purpose – to dump Calvin. Calvin, though – I think he definitely has an ego, and had issues with Taylor and her fame and success. Again, perhaps I’m reading WAY too much into the lyrics and press, but that’s my vibe.

    • Purplehazeforever says:

      Hiddleston used her too. It wasn’t a great love affair.

      • DS9 says:

        They weren’t together long enough for anyone to use the term love.

        But Hiddles is the perfect example of why I don’t buy her bullshit narrative about not being permitted any opinions, as if every dude she dealt with was looking for a stepford wife.

        Hiddles seems like the kind of guy who puts a woman on a pedestal when he’s dating them. It’s not a great quality, no and can feel very suffocating. But it’s also the complete opposite of not being permitted an opinion.

        My personal opinion is that none of these relationships ended for the same reasons nor can they be chalked up to just one reason.

  9. MeghanNotMarkle says:

    I don’t even know who this guy is so good for them, I guess? *shrug*

  10. Daisy says:

    He’s so boring, I’m sorry. But they seem happy, so good for them.
    Also yes, this “we’re so private but we still gonna leak stuff to People mag so people will know about us without us saying anything to keep the illusion we’re so very private” is hilarious.

    • horseandhound says:

      we can’t know if he’s boring or not because the guy gives nothing to the media. he talks a bit about the movie he’s been in and that’s it. he seems reserved like a good englishman.

      • no no says:

        watch one of his interviews from his movie promos. It’s great for insomnia. Dude has a personality of a potato.

      • Daisy says:

        It’s not that deep. I’ve seen a few of his movies and I found him to be just so bland and forgettable. That’s it.

      • rainflowers says:

        Daisy, he was pretty good as an uncharismatic Nazi in the Netflix film about capturing Eichmann, but maybe he just found that role particularly easy for some reason.

    • Kebbie says:

      I don’t think it’s “we” doing the leaking. It’s her. She can’t help herself. He actually seems content to stay under the radar.

    • Kosmos says:

      He seems like a great guy–I really like his physical looks, and he seems calm and level-headed so what’s not to like in this guy? I’ve never ever been a fan of Taylor’s music, but maybe he’s good for her. I hope she treats him well because he seems so likable–she’s lucky to have found someone like him. Not sure why she had absolutely no luck with all of the other guys she dated prior to this. As far as looks, I’m not sure why people constantly have to say that someone is not good looking enough. What? Does it really matter? Isn’t it more important what we act like and how we interact with each other?

  11. Jay (the Canadian one) says:

    That’s a bit of a low bar for qualities in a partner, isn’t it?

  12. Boodiba says:

    I’ll grant her that he does look older than 28! To me he looks about 34.

  13. latingrl2005 says:

    Now I see why Taylor wrote The Man…this site wont talk about her huge sales last week….867K in the US. 1M in China and close to 3m total worldwide but any dumb comment on here dating life gets a post filled of stupid response of people how have no idea what’s really going on.

    • DS9 says:

      She wouldn’t be making it onto the site at all if she weren’t a money making artist so you can miss me with this argument.

      It’s a gossip site, ffs. The word gossip has a definition.

    • Kebbie says:

      She’s the one leaking this nonsense to People. She’s the one writing songs about their great love affair. She LOVES when people talk about her love life. She’s the one driving this narrative.

  14. Tuntmore says:

    I’ve never liked Taylor Swift. I get a borderline personality vibe from her, honestly. And she both disputes her “craziness” and revels in it — sorry, but you don’t get to have it both ways. I feel bad for anyone who dates her. It has to be exhausting.

    Swift is a savvy, successful businesswoman and singer/songwriter. She’s worked hard to build her image and catalog. She’s very good at writing catchy, fluffy pop songs. She’s the Millennial Debbie Gibson. I don’t begrudge her any of that — good on her for kicking butt in a male-dominated industry. She’s obviously a strong woman. But there’s something so “off” about her, something that makes me believe she’s not that healthy or stable when it comes to interpersonal relationships.

    • virginfangirls says:

      I agree. With song after song, years after years, hearing her air her dirty laundry through songs or interviews, I had to admit this wasn’t a girl who picks terrible boyfriends or trust the wrong friends, but instead a woman who feels scorned by the smallest slight and seeks revenge for it. I think this was a nice way of saying “Joe totally and completely kisses her ass & that’s why it works for them.” And I’ll accept the argument that some actually did do her wrong at times (Kenya award moment for example) but most of it is just a woman who got her way too much and doesn’t know how to let the small shit go.

  15. Suz says:

    I watched The Favourite last weekend and while Joe is pretty, he has no charisma. Nothing special to make him stand out in the cast. He seems very oatmeal so this whole, he doesn’t care if she has opinions yawn-fest sounds about right to me.

    • Kebbie says:

      He was definitely the least interesting part of The Favourite. He was memorable in Boy Erased though. He was charming one minute and and completely terrifying the next.

  16. Racheal says:

    He looks like a slightly more attractive Paul Dano

  17. Desdemona says:

    She has opinions?? Oh, I didn’t know… (kidding)…

  18. Bread and Circuses says:

    I realize Taylor is the bigger star. I also realize her “people” routinely put out these “everything’s perfect!” stories about her boyfriends and her love life.

    But it does seem weird that these stories ALWAYS focus on Taylor’s thoughts and feelings, even when her boyfriend is a celebrity himself.

    It’s never “They’re so happy together!” or “He thinks she’s amazing!”. it’s always “Taylor is extremely pleased with her acquisition!”

    The lads really do get portrayed as formless fill-ins. I mean, even George Clooney’s unfamous girlfriends got their career aspirations mentioned in the tabloids. Joe is just a name and a pretty face adjacent to Taylor.

  19. Rachel says:

    Alwyn looks like a young Christopher Walkin.

  20. Shannon says:

    Meh, I’m sure none of the guys she previously dated actually openly tried to force her to not have opinions, but I’m sure plenty of them were bored and visibly annoyed when she talked about them or tried to mansplain her own opinions to her. Been there, done that.

  21. BC says:

    My guess is Taylor wants to pull a Beyonce and be martied at 30. My bet is she wouldve preferred to be married to Hiddleston because her track record proves she loves famous dudes and being part of an “it” couple but that somehow didnt workout (no thanks to Kanye and his drama)…she became a laughing stock and was labelled thirsty and a snake so she cut everything off. I still believe Gorgeous is abt Hiddleston by the way. Just makes sense. Dont we all think “Gorgeous” when we see him? I digress. She now feels the pressure to prove she can sustain a relationship beyond a year (the longest shes been with Calvin) after being mocked for writing albums for relationships that barely lasted a quarter of the year. She wants a marriage, possibly family , and the album was full of “are they/are they not married” subtle hints. Hope Joe gets the memo and proposes this Christmas or New Year. And they get married in summer. I do wonder if she can take the …unopinionated…husband over a famous husband. I cant get over her track record.. unless she plans on making him as famous as Leo. Because she likes the famous ones.
    I know my post wont be popular and may come across as wrong but think abt it. Seems to me shes “settling” for Joe. If you settle for someone that isnt your type, what happens 5years down the line when he bores you? Youll go seeking that which excites you. Tay, its not too late to get back with Hiddleston girl 😉

  22. Bee says:

    She seems utterly desperate for the public to buy into the notion that this guy is some insanely attractive, perfect boyfriend. Problem is, no one (apart from her stans) are buying it.

    • Kosmos says:

      He seems like a GREAT guy, what do you mean? He doesn’t have to be insanely attractive or perfect–can’t we ever get away from perfect men and women? Where does it end? Let’s just not focus so much on their looks, but on who they are as people, and if they are good individuals and do good things in the world and interact well with others. Let’s not be so superficial. It just feeds more into having a superficial world where all are viewed as less than perfect and that’s just not the world we want to create, is it? Be an EXAMPLE of a better world where people are not treated simply as objects of beauty or good looks.