Instagram filters have been working overtime since Taylor Swift used a Grammys acceptance speech to announce her upcoming eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, earlier this month. It would appear that Swift has gone full sepia-tone in the lead-up for the album, including a moody shot accompanying the album’s tracklist, with the equally moody declaration “I love you, it’s ruining my life.”
Wait, who is “you”? Could it be, as many fans speculate based on the album being written during and after the end of a six-ish year romantic relationship Swift's ex-boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn? Is he the beloved, life-ruining, sepia-filtering “you” in question?
Oh yeah? Well, Alwyn would like you to know that at some point, he was in the same room as Brian Cox. And he’s going to let you know on Instagram, in black and white.
Alwyn, Swift’s notoriously private ex-boyfriend, made his first post on the social media platform in about six months on Monday, contributing a caption-free carousel of 10 images, kicking off the festivities with a monochrome-filtered mirror selfie. And if you think that mirror isn’t antique-looking and nestled in a tree? Think again.
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While the world speculates ahead of The Tortured Poets Department's April 19 release date about the inspiration behind “So Long, London” and “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” and Swift drops breadcrumbs about her past relationship with Alwyn, like mentioning onstage that she felt “lonely” while writing her album Folklore (during their year relationship), Alwyn has contributed a grab bag of photos for our consideration. There’s something for everyone here: A dog, a meme from the original British The Office featuring Ricky Gervais. We’ve got casinos, an ocean, Alwyn smirking over his shoulder like he is not Serious People while Cox looks at someone else out of frame skeptically.
Swift, meanwhile, is in Australia on the latest leg of her Eras Tour, and in her own Monday Instagram carousel, showed off the new boots she’s wearing during the Lover portion of her set. Oh, and her new boyfriend Travis Kelce has heard the new album, and says it's “unbelievable.”
It’s a mysterious melange, this assortment of images. Life is a rich tapestry, and Joe Alwyn? He’s out here weaving…something?
Representatives for Joe Alwyn did not respond to a request for comment.
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