In the lead up to Taylor's re-release... and during... and after... Jake became public enemy number one with many Swifties.
The more extreme spectrum of the backlash saw the internet become almost a 21st century, virtual equivalent to the pillory, with Jake trapped inside. And he eventually turned off his Instagram comments.
Throughout the storm, Taylor never confirmed whether her artistry was referring to Jake. But that didn't stop many Swifties jumping to conclusions.
Considering the Love Story singer never addressed who the album was about, she also never put out a statement saying "um... hey guys, let's tone down the Gyllenhaal bashing".
Jake addressed this ethical issue in his profile, but spoke in a more broader sense when it comes to the power dynamic between celebrities and their fans.
“At some point, I think it’s important when supporters get unruly that we feel a responsibility to have them be civil and not allow for cyberbullying in one’s name,” Jake said.
“That begs for a deeper philosophical question. Not about any individual, per se, but a conversation that allows us to examine how we can—or should, even—take responsibility for what we put into the world, our contributions into the world. How do we provoke a conversation? We see that in politics. There’s anger and divisiveness, and it’s literally life-threatening in the extreme.”
Oh, and he also said he hasn't listened to the album. Girlie you're missing out, you inspired some bangers NGL.
After a whirlwind three-month romance back in 2010, Jake reportedly ended things with Taylor right before New Year’s, leaving the Speak Now singer blindsided.
According to the Huffington Post, the Marvel actor called it quits as he was uncomfortable with the amount of press he and Taylor were receiving. Little did he know.
“He said he wasn’t feeling it anymore and was uncomfortable with all the attention they got,” a source said, according to the publication. “He also said he could feel the age difference.” (At the time, Taylor was 21 while Jake was 29).
Cut to October 2012 and Taylor dropped her fourth album, Red, which she described as her “only true break-up album” to Rolling Stone in 2020.
“I look back on this like this is my only true break-up album. Every other album has flickers of different things. But this was an album I wrote about a pure, absolute, to the core heartbreak.”
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