Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have reached the end of their love story. The couple broke up a few weeks ago after six years of dating, and a source close to the Grammy winner and the Conversations with Friends actor tells PEOPLE the split was largely caused by “differences in their personalities.”
“They’ve had rough patches before and always worked things out, so friends thought they would take some time apart but eventually come back together,” says the source, noting that “ultimately” Swift, 33, and Alwyn, 32, “weren’t the right fit for one another.”
Reps for Swift and Alwyn have not commented on the breakup.
The “Lavender Haze” musician was first publicly linked to the British actor in May 2017, when it was revealed that the pair had been quietly dating for months. Though it’s not clear exactly when they met, fans have speculated that Swift and Alwyn first crossed paths at the 2016 Met Gala.
“They had plenty in common and fell in love in a safe bubble while she was retreating from the world during Reputation,” adds the source, referring to Swift’s 2017 studio album. “Then the pandemic hit, and they were locked down together and able to continue growing their relationship in this insulated way. But he didn’t really ‘know’ her yet outside of that bubble.”
Throughout their relationship, the pair kept details of their romance to themselves, demurring on engagement rumors in recent years.
Sources say the pair bonded quickly over shared passions for art and creativity. Indeed, Swift has released 10 songs co-written and/or co-produced with Alwyn, who wrote under the pseudonym William Bowery
