Rumors surrounding Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn’s breakup have intensified, particularly after Ryan Reynolds seemingly revealed the reason behind their split, with many speculating that it involved cheating. The breakup, which initially appeared mutual and low-key, took a dramatic turn when fans noticed that several of Taylor’s close friends, including some high-profile celebrities, began unfollowing Joe on social media. This sparked curiosity and raised questions about whether the breakup was truly amicable or if something more scandalous was going on behind the scenes.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn had been in a private relationship for about six years, and while they had kept much of their romance out of the public eye, fans were shocked when news broke in early 2023 that the couple had parted ways. For a while, there was no official word on why the two had broken up, but speculation grew as some of Taylor’s celebrity friends, who are fiercely loyal to her, began distancing themselves from Joe. This led many fans to wonder if Joe had done something to hurt Taylor—possibly cheating on her.

One of the first clues that things weren’t as they seemed was when eagle-eyed fans noticed that Joe had deleted several photos of him and Taylor from his Instagram account. Shortly after, a Twitter user spotted this, and rumors began swirling that the breakup was sudden and unexpected, especially considering that there had been talk of the two possibly getting engaged not long before.

Adding fuel to the fire, shortly after the breakup went public, some of Taylor’s closest friends, including Gigi Hadid, Ryan Reynolds, and Blake Lively, unfollowed Joe on Instagram. This sparked widespread speculation that something major had occurred—likely infidelity. Taylor’s fans, known for their deep loyalty and strong protective instincts, quickly rallied around her and began targeting Joe online, with some suspecting that he had cheated on her.

One of the main figures caught up in the drama was British actress Emma Laird, who had been working with Joe on the set of The Brutalist. In March 2023, Emma posted a picture of Joe on Instagram, which led many to believe that the two had grown close while filming. Fans speculated that Joe might have had an affair with Emma during this time. Emma’s caption, “Moments in March,” alongside a photo of Joe, ignited even more backlash, especially as this was around the same time as his rumored split from Taylor.

The backlash towards Emma was so intense that she had to disable comments on the post due to the overwhelming hate and snake emojis being sent her way by Swift’s fans. Many fans were quick to accuse Emma of being the reason behind Taylor and Joe’s breakup, even though no direct evidence supported this claim. Some fans even created TikTok videos compiling the supposed “evidence” of Joe’s infidelity, further spreading the narrative that he had cheated on Taylor with Emma.

As the rumors swirled, sources close to the situation claimed that Joe had been struggling with the pressures of fame, particularly the immense attention that came with dating one of the most famous women in the world. According to insiders, Joe allegedly enjoyed his time filming in Hungary with Emma because it allowed him to escape the public eye and avoid the intense scrutiny that comes with being Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. This only fueled further speculation that Joe had found solace in Emma’s company, leading to rumors of an affair.

The situation became even more complicated when Emma was caught liking a post on social media about Joe and Taylor’s breakup. This small action was enough to reignite the firestorm of accusations, with many fans believing that Emma’s like was a subtle acknowledgment of her involvement in the breakup.

What truly escalated the situation, however, was when Taylor’s close circle began publicly showing their support for her by unfollowing Joe on social media. The first notable person to unfollow Joe was Taylor’s brother, Austin Swift, who rarely uses Instagram and hadn’t posted anything in nearly two years. Fans saw this as a major sign that something had gone seriously wrong, as Austin is notoriously private and would not have taken such a public action without a good reason.

Shortly after Austin’s unfollow, other members of Taylor’s squad, including Gigi Hadid, the Haim sisters, and Ryan Reynolds, followed suit. Ryan, who is known for his witty and humorous persona and usually stays out of drama, made headlines for his decision to unfollow Joe, especially given how close he and Blake Lively are to Taylor. In fact, Taylor had named characters in her song “Betty” after Ryan and Blake’s daughters, showing just how close the two families were.

Ryan and Joe had also been known to be good friends, which made Ryan’s public show of support for Taylor even more significant. Many fans took this as a confirmation that Joe had indeed done something to betray Taylor, possibly cheating, and that Ryan, as a loyal friend, was taking Taylor’s side in the aftermath of the breakup.

While neither Taylor nor Joe have publicly commented on the reason for their breakup, the actions of their inner circles and the mounting speculation have painted a picture of a relationship that ended due to betrayal. Fans continue to keep a close eye on any further developments, particularly as Taylor moves forward with her career, recently spotted with NFL star Travis Kelce, sparking new dating rumors.

In the wake of the breakup, Taylor’s fans have rallied around her, as they always do, expressing support and solidarity. Whether or not Joe’s rumored infidelity is the true cause of the breakup, it’s clear that the fallout from the split has left a lasting impact on the public’s perception of him, especially with Taylor’s friends and fans showing no hesitation in siding with her. As for Joe and Emma, both have remained largely silent on the matter, but the internet’s relentless speculation shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.