Inside Taylor Swift and Matt Healy’s Love Story: Every sign that the all-American pop star and gritty British rocker have been dating for MONTHS
Taylor Swift fans were left in shock as it emerged she’s dating Matt Healy just weeks after her split from Joe Alwyn.
The American singer, 33, is said to be ‘madly in love’ with The 1975 frontman, 34, after their long-term friendship blossomed into romance and is planning on making their romance ‘public’ this week.
While Matt is said to be the latest in a string of British boyfriends, fans were left in shock as the English rocker is a far cry from the clean-cut men that Taylor typically dates.
However, the writing has been on the wall for some time, with Taylor – who loves nothing more than dropping Easter eggs for her fans – seemingly dropping some very heavy hints about their romance.
Now, MailOnline takes a look back at their love story and all the clues that proved they were more than just friends.
Hot new romance? Taylor Swift s said to be ‘madly in love’ with The 1975 frontman Matt Healy (right); pictured in 2015 with mutual friend Nick Grimshaw
Being each other’s biggest cheerleaders
Taylor and Matt are said to have met and bonded over their shared love of music.
The pair met in 2014 when Taylor attended The 1975’s concert with her best friend Selena Gomez and quickly struck up a close friendship.
She went on to be spotted wearing the British band’s T-shirt while Matt returned the favour by performing in an 1989 album top.
Romance rumours immediately began to swirl, and although denied being in a relationship with Taylor, he confirmed they had been texting each other.
He said on Australian radio: ‘Yeah, we met each other, we exchanged numbers in the same way that a lot of people in this kind of world do and we spoke occasionally.’
In an interview with GQ, Matt also gushed over the blonde beauty, saying: Since she came to my show in December of 2014, I would say that 90 perfect of journalists that have interviewed me have asked about either her as a person or what our ‘interaction’ was like.
‘I have said on countless occasions that I found her to be one of the most gracious, hard working, creatively gifted, and beautiful women that I have had the pleasure to meet. I personally have a lot of respect and admiration for her. Why would I not?’
Meeting the family
Taylor has a fan in the form of Matt’s famous mother Denise Welch, who recently shared a snap of the pair cuddled up.
The Loose Women star, 64, beamed broadly as she posed for pictures Taylor while backstage at a The 1975 gig in London’s O2 in January.
Denise couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she penned: ‘Oh what a night at a sold out 02. So proud I can’t even begin!!’
In the image, Taylor looked chic in a black blazer, with her dark blonde locks tied up in a bun and a pop of red lipstick.
She beamed as she wrapped an arm over Denise’s shoulder.
Cheerleaders? Their rumoured flirtation began in 2014 when Matt wore Taylor’s 1989 album T-shirts during one of the band’s gigs, and she followed suit by sporting one of their tour tops
Toning down the rock star lifestyle
Matt has a reputation for getting up close and personal with his fans at The 1975 gigs, often jumping into the crowd to kiss his female admirers.
However, the rock star notably toned down his behaviour when Taylor was in attendance at one of his recent gigs.
Referring to the singer as a ‘queen’, he went on to disappoint his female fans by announcing he wouldn’t be kissing anyone that night.
He told the crowd: ‘I’m not kissing anybody in front of Taylor Swift, have some respect. In front of the Queen, it’s not happening.’
Musical collaborations
Matt previously revealed the band worked with Taylor on her latest album Midnights, but their tracks didn’t make the cut.
He told KROQ’s Klein/Ally Show for Audacy’s DTS Sound Space: ‘We actually worked a bit on that but then the version of it never came out.’
The star was then booed and he responded: ‘That’s not how it works. It was for reasons that are not to be criticised. She’s amazing.’
Taylor also made a surprise appearance at The 1975 gig in January when she performed her chart-topping hit Anti-Hero for the first time.
‘Oh what a night!’ Back in January, Taylor cuddled up with Matty’s famous mother Denise Welch who was every inch the proud mother as her son performed at London’s 02 Arena
Shared social circles
Taylor and Matt have a wide circle of mutual friends and acquaintances, including musician Jack Antonoff who has produced albums for both The 1975 and Taylor.
The pair also have a mutual friend in singer Halsey – who Matt was rumoured to have dated in 2015 – although the pair never confirmed the rumours.
British DJ Nick Grimshaw is also friends with the couple after getting to know Taylor when she dated his best friend Harry Styles.
What we know so far
Taylor and Matt are now gearing up to go public with their romance during her concert in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday, reports The Sun.
News of the new romance comes just weeks after it emerged that Taylor split from her boyfriend of six years Joe, 32, after the pair ‘struggled’ with their ‘career differences’.
The rumoured romance with Matt is the latest in a string of British boyfriends for Taylor, who – as well as her last relationship with Joe – has dated Harry Styles, Calvin Harris, and Tom Hiddleston.
An insider told the publication: ‘She and Matty are madly in love.
‘It’s super-early days, but it feels right. They first dated, very briefly, almost ten years ago but timings just didn’t work out.’
The source went on to insist that there was no crossover in Taylor’s love life, despite news of her split from Joe emerging last month, insisting that the pair actually broke up in February.
Taylor is currently in the middle of the US leg of her The Eras Tour while The 1975 are on their At Their Very Best concert tour, but the source insisted they have kept in constant communication by texting and Face Timing.
The source added: ‘As two international megastars, they understand the pressures of one another’s jobs better than anyone, and are incredibly supportive of their respective careers.
‘They are both massively proud and excited about this relationship and, unlike Taylor’s last one — which was very much kept out of the spotlight, deliberately — she wants to ‘own’ this romance, and not hide it away.
‘Taylor just wants to live her life, and be happy. She’s told pals Matty is flying to Nashville over the weekend to support her on the next leg of her tour.’
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Taylor for comment.
Taylor Swift’s dating history
Taylor Swift fans are in shock as it’s been reported that the Grammy Award-winning singer has called it quits with Joe Alwyn after six years together.
The hitmaker, 33, has had multiple high profile relationships – and break ups – over the years, including with the likes of Harry Styles and DJ Calvin Harris.
And as it appears she’s back on the market, DailyMail.com is taking a look back on Taylor’s extensive dating history.
July- October 2008: JOE JONAS
Taylor dated Joe in the early days of her singing career back in 2008, but sadly split after only a few months together
Taylor dated Joe in the early days of her singing career back in 2008, but sadly split after only a few months together.
The singer revealed that she was dumped over ‘phone call’ and their relationship was inspiration for the star’s much-loved album Fearless.
The Grammy-winning songstress then went onto slam Joe during an appearance on The Ellen Show, saying: ‘There’s one (song) that’s about that guy, but that guy’s not in my life anymore, unfortunately. That’s ouch.
‘We haven’t talked since, but you know what, some day I’m gonna find someone really really great who’s right for me.’
‘When I look at that person, I’m not even going to remember the boy who broke up with me over the phone in 25 seconds when I was 18.’
But in 2015, Joe revealed he harbored no bad blood with Taylor during an interview with Access Hollywood, admitting that having a song written about you goes with the territory of dating a musician.
The singer revealed that she was dumped over ‘phone call’ and their relationship was inspiration for the star’s much-loved album Fearless
And in 2021, Taylor hinted that she and Jonas were back on civil terms during another appearance on Ellen’s Burning Questions segment.
The star was asked what the most rebellious thing she did as a teenager was, which caused Taylor to laugh.
‘Probably when I like put Joe Jonas on blast on your show,’ she began. ‘That was too much, that was too much.’
Meanwhile in 2021, Taylor put out previously unreleased track Mr. Perfectly Fine which is believed to be about ex Joe.
August – November 2009: TAYLOR LAUTNER
Taylor and Taylor dated back in 2009, having first met while filming the upcoming ensemble romantic comedy Valentine’s Day, where they shared an on-screen kiss.
Taylor and Taylor dated back in 2009, having first met while filming the upcoming ensemble romantic comedy Valentine’s Day, where they shared an on-screen kiss.
She described the moment as ‘life-changing’, and he appeared equally smitten, saying he definitely considered her ‘his type’.
When quizzed about their relationship on a U.S. radio show at the time, the Love Story singer played it coy.
She said: ‘I don’t know, he’s an amazing guy and we’re really close… and ah… yep.’
However it was a mere two months before their relationship was over.
‘He liked her more than she liked him. He went everywhere he could to see her, but she didn’t travel much to see him,’ a source told Us Weekly at the time. ‘They decided they were better as friends.’
It has long been rumored that Swift wrote Back To December about her 2009 relationship with Lautner.
November 2009 – February 2010: JOHN MAYER
John Mayer reportedly dated Taylor from December 2009 through February 2010 when he was 31 and she was 19
John Mayer reportedly dated Taylor from December 2009 through February 2010 when he was 31 and she was 19.
They originally met when she collaborated on his song Half of My Heart.
The romance seemingly ended on bad terms based on her scathing song Dear John which many people believe is about him.
The name of the song as well as lyrics recalling her age (19) at the time of the romance appear to lead to the conclusion that is is fact about John and their rocky but brief romance, although the songstress never confirmed it was about him.
The timing of the song also confirms its about John: She released the song in October 2010 on her Speak Now album, eight months after their reported split.
The romance seemingly ended on bad terms based on her scathing song Dear John which many people believe is about him
The tune gave insight on how Taylor and John’s reported romance went wrong, with the singer singing in tune: ‘Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone/ Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with / The girl in the dress cried the whole way home.’
She also wrote the lyrics: ‘Well maybe it’s me / And my blind optimism to blame / Or maybe it’s you and your sick need / To give love and take it away.
‘Dear John, I see it all now, it was wrong / Don’t you think nineteen’s too young / To be played by your dark, twisted games.’
He added more fuel to the fire two years after the songs release when he told Rolling Stone magazine that he felt ‘really humiliated’ about the song, which ‘made’ him ‘feel terrible.’
October – December 2010: JAKE GYLLENHAAL
Swift and Gyllenhaal made headlines when they dated for just three months in the fall of 2010, when he was 29 and she was 20
Swift and Gyllenhaal made headlines when they dated for just three months in the fall of 2010, when he was 29 and she was 20.
Sources told tabloids at the time that it was ‘serious,’ and they were even spotted together over Thanksgiving weekend.
Nearly two years after they split, Swift released Red, which included track number five, All Too Well, with allusions to the actor.
In the original lyrics, Swift sings about taking a trip upstate with her romantic partner, leaving her scarf at his sister’s house, dancing in the kitchen, and falling in love before it all ended.
She later teased on numerous occasions that the song as she originally wrote it lasted about ten minutes, but verses were cut for time.
Gyllenhaal, though, denied knowing anything about being featured on her album.
‘Do I [have a song]? I don’t know,’ he told Howard Stern in 2015.
Earlier this year, Taylor released a 10-minute long, deeply personal version of All Too Well, which offered added new dramatic details in recounting their romance, singing that she was in ‘hell’ and felt ‘shame’ (pictured, the music video)
The song would have firmly been in Swift’s past had it not been for the drama with her masters. In 2009, after Scooter Braun purchased her masters, Swift accused him of exerting ‘tyrannical control’ over her music, and the two had a bitter feud in the press.
At the urging of fans, Swift began rerecording all of the songs for which he owned the masters, which she has started to release — including several never-before-released tracks on each one.
She released a 10-minute long, deeply personal version of All Too Well, which offered added new dramatic details in recounting their romance, singing that she was in ‘hell’ and felt ‘shame.’
Most damning, though were revelations that Gyllenhaal told Swift the problem was their age difference.
July- October 2012: CONNOR KENNEDY
Taylor and Connor – the son of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the late Mary Kennedy – were first spotted together at the Kennedy family home in Hyannisport in July 2012
Taylor and Connor – the son of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the late Mary Kennedy – were first spotted together at the Kennedy family home in Hyannisport in July 2012.
But the summer romance barely lasted three months. Insiders said Taylor – who was four years older than Conor – freaked the 18-year-old by coming on too strong – and because of her apparent obsession with his famous family.
‘Conor’s just an 18-year-old kid and wasn’t ready for anything super serious,’ a pal told RadarOnline.com.
‘But Taylor is looking for her soulmate and it kind of freaked him out with how strong she came on,’ the insider went on.
The friend also said that Taylor was obsessed with the Kennedy family – and was living out a fairytale with Conor.
‘She was more obsessed with the idea of dating a Kennedy, than the actual Kennedy she was dating,’ the pal added.
December 2012 – January 2013: HARRY STYLES
Fledgling couple Harry and Taylor dated from November 2012, with a source telling The Sun at the time he was ‘head over heels’ for her
Fledgling couple Harry and Taylor dated from November 2012, with a source telling The Sun at the time: ‘Harry is head over heels for Taylor and even admitted he loves her while they were in the Big Apple.’
However they split just three months later in January 2013.
At the time it was reported she had ended their fling after an angry row during their New Year’s vacation.
He is largely believed to be the inspiration for her tracks Style and Out Of The Woods, both off of the album 1989.
In 2015, she admitted she always knew her relationship with Harry was doomed for fail.
In a video posted to celebrate the one year anniversary of her hit album 1989, she revealed that the number one feeling she felt during her three month fling with the One Direction singer was ‘anxiety’.
Before belting out a one-off acoustic version of Out Of The Woods, she elaborated on the relationship that inspired the song.
‘I’m going to play you a song that I wrote about a relationship that I was in that the number one feeling I felt in the whole relationship was anxiety,’ she explained as she sat at her piano.
In 2015, she admitted she always knew her relationship with Harry was doomed for fail because she felt ‘anxious’ the whole time
‘Because it felt very fragile, it felt very tentative. And it always felt like, “Okay, what’s the next road block? What’s the next thing that’s gonna deter this?
‘How long do we have before this turns into just an awful mess and we break up? Is it a month? Is it three days?”
The former One Direction-er previously spoke about Taylor’s songwriting back in 2017.
He kept coy about the songs, but defended Taylor against critics telling Rolling Stone: ‘I mean, I don’t know if [Out Of The Woods and Style] about me or not, but the issue is, she’s so good, they’re bloody everywhere.’
March 2015 – June 2016: CALVIN HARRIS
Taylor is rumored to have started their relationship after meeting the hunk at a BRIT Awards after party in London in February 2015
Taylor is rumored to have started their relationship after meeting the hunk at a BRIT Awards after party in London in February 2015.
However the couple ended up splitting in 2016 after a very public romance, with reports stating the relationship had ended because he was ‘jealous’ of the superstar singer’s success.
Calvin later accused Taylor’s team of leaking that she had secretly written the lyrics for his hit track with Rihanna, This Is What You Came For.
He wrote soon at the time: ‘Hurtful to me at this point that her and her team would go so far out of their way to try and make ME look bad at this stage though. I figure if you’re happy in your new relationship you should focus on that instead of trying to tear your ex bf down for something to do.
‘I know you’re off tour and you need someone new to try and bury like Katy [Perry] ETC but I’m not that guy, sorry. I won’t allow it. Please focus on the positive aspects of YOUR life because you’ve earned a great one. God bless everyone have a beautiful day.’
Calvin later admitted ‘all hell broke loose’ when he split from Taylor.
Calvin later admitted ‘all hell broke loose’ when he split from Taylor; seen in 2015
He told GQ: ‘It’s very difficult when something I consider so personal plays out very publicly. The aftermath of the relationship was way more heavily publicized than the relationship itself.
‘When we were together, we were very careful for it not to be a media circus. She respected my feelings in that sense. I’m not good at being a celebrity.’
He continued: ‘But when it ended, all hell broke loose. Now I see that Twitter thing as a result of me succumbing to pressure. It took me a minute to realize that none of that matters. I’m a positive guy. For both of us it was the wrong situation. It clearly wasn’t right, so it ended, but all of the stuff that happened afterwards.’
June – September 2016: TOM HIDDLESTON
The couple – formerly known as Hiddleswift – became infamous due to their enthusiastic public displays of affection; seen in July 2016
The couple – formerly known as Hiddleswift – became infamous due to their enthusiastic public displays of affection.
They shocked fans around the world after they were spotted locking lips on a beach in June 2016 – marking the beginning of their romance.
But the most infamous moment occurred during their July 4th weekend break in Rhode Island, where Tom was photographed frolicking in the surf with his lover while wearing a vest that was emblazoned with the message ‘I heart TS’.
Tom insisted that their relationship wasn’t a ‘showmance’ when talking to The Hollywood Reporter.
‘The truth is that Taylor Swift and I are together, and we’re very happy,’ he said. ‘That’s the truth. It’s not a publicity stunt.’
The couple even took the huge step of meeting one another’s parents, with Taylor jetting to the UK to spend time with Tom’s mother in Suffolk, while he went to her adopted home town of Nashville.
However it was soon reported she put the brakes on the relationship after having regrets about how public the first few weeks were and getting the impression that Tom liked the limelight.
A source told Us Weekly: ‘Taylor knew the backlash that comes with public displays of affection but Tom didn’t listen to her concerns when she brought them up.
‘I think she feels a little embarrassed that the whole world saw them so serious and now it’s over.’
According to the publication, the pair were also struggling maintain a long-distance relationship, and met up in her Rhode Island home just last month in a bid to work through their problems.
They ended up breaking up in September of that year an insider exclusively told DailyMail.com that the pop star felt ‘uncomfortable’ with the actor’s desire to be ‘so public’ about their romance.
Tom insisted that their relationship wasn’t a ‘showmance’ when talking to The Hollywood Reporter
They ended up breaking up in September of that year an insider exclusively told DailyMail.com that the pop star felt ‘uncomfortable’ with the actor’s desire to be ‘so public’ about their romance
Tom had asked Taylor to the Emmy Awards that month, but she began questioning whether he was with her for ‘the right reasons’ and ultimately decided to call off the romance.
The actor commented in a GQ profile in a 2017: ‘Taylor is an amazing woman. She’s generous and kind and lovely, and we had the best time.’
He also nixed speculation the relationship was a stunt purely designed for publicity, insisting: ‘Of course it was real.’
He claims they were both seeking a normal relationship, adding: ‘So we decided to go out for dinner, we decided to travel… She’s incredible. [But] a relationship in the limelight… A relationship always takes work. And it’s not just the limelight. It’s everything else.’
2016- APRIL 2023: JOE ALWYN
Whirlwind: Taylor began dating the Conversations With Friends star, 31, in late 2016 after they were rumored to have crossed paths at that year’s Met Gala in New York City; Taylor and Joe pictured in 2019
Taylor began dating the Conversations With Friends star, 31, in late 2016 after they were rumored to have crossed paths at that year’s Met Gala in New York City.
The Lover singer reportedly kicked off her romance with Joe just months after her shock split from Loki actor, Tom Hiddleston, in September 2016.
Taylor gave fans insight into their burgeoning romance by alluding to Joe in lyrics on her hit 2017 album Reputation, including the song Gorgeous where she recalls ‘making fun of’ his English accent.
The Grammy Award-winner opened up even more on her 2019 album Lover, where she gushed about her ‘London boy’ on multiple tracks.
The song Cruel Summer is also rumored to be about the overlap between the beginning of her romance with Joe and the end of her fling with Hiddleston.
Joe told The Sunday Times in 2018 that he finds it ‘flattering’ that Taylor uses him as her musical muse.
Just two years later, Taylor welcomed her beau into the songwriting world by allowing him to pen lyrics for her 2020 alum, Folklore.
Using the pseudonym ‘William Bowery,’ Joe co-wrote two songs for the Grammy Award-winning album and three more songs for Folklore’s sister record Evermore.
Although she feels safe opening up in her music, Taylor previously stated that her relationship with the British hunk ‘isn’t up for discussion’ in the press.
She discussed the decision to keep their romance ‘private’ in her 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana, which included rare footage of herself and Joe.
Insight: Taylor gave fans insight into their burgeoning romance by alluding to Joe in lyrics on her hit 2017 album Reputation, including the song Gorgeous where she recalls ‘making fun of’ his English accent; Taylor and Joe pictured in 2019
Split? On April 3, 2023, it was claimed by ET that – despite reports they were ‘doing fine’ – Taylor and Joe had decided to call it quits after six years together; Taylor and Joe pictured in 2019
She described ‘falling in love with someone who had a really wonderfully normal, balanced, grounded life’ and they ‘decided together that we wanted our relationship to be private.’
Though the pair have yet to make a red carpet debut, they’ve attended several high-profile events together – including the Golden Globes in 2020.
They were hit with engagement rumors in July 2022 but Taylor seemingly shut them down in the lyrics on her latest album Midnights.
On April 3, 2023, it was claimed by ET that – despite reports they were ‘doing fine’ – Taylor and Joe had decided to call it quits after six years together.
A source told the outlet that the split was ‘not dramatic’ and that the relationship had simply fizzled out.
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