Joe Alwyn has broken his silence on his split from longtime girlfriend Taylor Swift more than a year after their breakup.

The Conversations with Friends actor and Midnights singer were notoriously private about their relationship, which ended in early 2023 after nearly seven years of dating, but in a new interview with The Times of London, Alwyn spoke out for the first time about handling their split while also dealing with the public's quick response to the end of their relationship, per Entertainment Tonight.

"I would hope that anyone and everyone can [empathize] and understand the difficulties that come with the end of a long, loving, fully committed relationship of over six and a half," he said. "That is a hard thing to navigate. What is unusual and abnormal in this situation is that, one week later, it's suddenly in the public domain and the outside world is able to weigh in."

Alwyn said the intense reaction and subsequent speculation about his breakup added a whole new level to the situation.

"So you have something very real suddenly thrown into a very unreal space: tabloids, social media, press, where it is then dissected, speculated on, pulled out of shape beyond recognition," he said. "And the truth is, to that last point, there is always going to be a gap between what is known and what is said. I have made peace with that."

When the Times inquired if he had listened to his ex's latest album The Tortured Poets Department, which many fans have speculated references Swift's relationship with the Kinds of Kindness actor, Alwyn chose not to give a "direct answer," adding that he hopes people can empathize with the situation. He also refused to say whether he and Swift have kept in contact, but he did share that he feels like he is a good place in his life right now.

"I feel fortunate to be in a really good place in my life, professionally and personally," he said. "I feel good.

While Alwyn didn't share any details about his current dating life, Swift has been very vocal about her new relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. She was seen attending several of his games throughout the NFL season, including when his team won the Super Bowl in February, while he has supported her at multiple shows throughout her Eras Tour.

Rocky Barnette