Despite them breaking up over ten years ago, Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal’s relationship still has a chokehold on many Swifties.
And considering that Taylor is re-releasing Red – the album rumoured to be inspired by the actor himself – we’re willing to bet all our red scarves that the obsession will not die down any time soon.
WATCH: Jake Gyllenhaal talks dating
So you know when you’re crying in the shower screaming: “YOU CALL ME UP AGAIN JUST TO BREAK ME LIKE A PROMISE!!!”?
… No, just us?
Um anyway… those lyrics, from Taylor’s song All Too Well, are rumoured to be about her ex-boyfriend, Jake Gyllenhaal. In fact, the 31-year-old’s entire Red record is said to be about the actor.
And if you listen to the whole thing… it’s clear things didn’t end well. We mean, the lyric: “I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here” speaks for itself. Miss. Swift was going throuuugh it.
So, what exactly happened between Taylor and Jake? We’ve investigated and, yeah, things really did get lost in translation.
It all started in October 2010. Taylor and Jake were reportedly spotted picking apples at Fishkill Farms in New York. How wholesome.
Soon after, they were hanging out backstage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s studio while their friend Emma Stone was hosting Saturday Night Live. The trio then went for lunch the next day.
Taylor and Jake finally headed out of NY at the end of the month for a weekend away in Big Sur, California. It was here they went on an ice cream date (Olivia Rodrigo was clearly inspired by her role model when she had that strawberry ice cream date in Malibu).
In November, the couple enjoyed some coffee in Nashville. Then, things seemed to be getting more serious as the Blank Space singer was reported to be hanging out with Jake’s family.
Yep – Us Weekly photographed Taylor and Jake in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighbourhood, which was where Jake’s sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, lived at the time.
Maggie later told the publication that the day went “great”.
Yeah, OK, but not for long Maggie babes… because after around two months of dating, Jake reportedly ended things right before New Year’s, leaving Taylor 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.
“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 drops 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.”
Yeah, we can tell bestie. One listen of All Too Well definitely screams “core heartbreak”.
Despite Taylor never confirming that the song is about Jake, once telling Entertainment Weekly that she “write(s) in great detail about (her) personal life, but do(esn’t) talk about it,” Swifties are adamant that ATW refers to her time with the Brokeback Mountain star.
In particular, the line “I left my scarf there at your sister’s house. And you’ve still got it in your drawer even now” is believed to be referring to Taylor’s time at Maggie’s house.
Fans of the tune were sent into a frenzy when Taylor announced that, when re-releasing Red, she is planning on unveiling the original 10 MINUTE version of the song.
All we can say is we will be a crumpled up piece of paper after hearing it.
Hey girl! Want more fashion, beauty, health and pop culture news from Girlfriend?
Follow us on Instagram @girlfriendmag & turn ON our post notifications in the top right-hand corner of our IG profile so you never miss a post
Remember to add our homepage to your favourites https://www.girlfriend.com.au/
& click here for our newsletter link for all your GF updates!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
