Jake Gyllenhaal Reacts to Taylor Swift Controversy in New Interview
Jake Gyllenhaal shared his thoughts on Taylor Swift and her song “All Too Well” in his Esquire profile released on Thursday.
“It has nothing to do with me,” he stated, “It’s about her relationship with her fans. It is her expression.” The 41-year-old actor’s response comes three months after “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)” was released and over a decade after the original “All Too Well” dropped.
💬| Jake Gyllenhaal in a recent interview talking about “All too well” and “Red TV” by @taylorswift13
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) February 16, 2022
“It’s her way of expressing herself. Artists draw on their personal experiences to write songs and I’m not angry with her.” pic.twitter.com/7LM6y0ldVe
While Swift never explicitly stated her lyrics were about Gyllenhaal, there have long been rumors that he was her source of inspiration for the heartbreaking hit. Despite their relatively brief, three-month romance in 2010, the love affair appeared to have lasting effects when Swift released her Red album two years later. And when she released the updated version last November, the plot thickened.
The 10-minute version of “All Too Well” was infinitely darker than its bittersweet predecessor. With lyrics like, “You said if we had been closer in age, maybe it would have been fine,” and “I was never good at telling jokes, but the punchline goes: I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age,” Swift seemed to directly reference Gyllenhaal and his history of dating significantly younger women.
Gyllenhaal has experienced his fair share of backlash on behalf of the Red revival. While he hasn’t listened to any of the songs on the updated album, he admits he had to turn off his Instagram comments because of internet hate.
“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,” he told Esquire.
Fortunately, the Nightcrawler actor considers himself at peace despite the circumstances. “My life is wonderful. I have a relationship that is truly wonderful, and I have a family I love so much,” he shared, “And this whole period of time has made me realize that.”
With Taylor Swift and longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn’s engagement rumors circulating the web, the Gyllenhaal x Swift saga might be over. But until then, the decade-old love affair continues to be remembered all too well.
