Fans think Taylor Swift has been subtly hinting at her breakup with Joe Alwyn for weeks

Taylor Swift and her partner Joe Alwyn parted ways this week after six years of dating – but according to the popstar's die-hard fans, the news was a long time coming.

The Lavender Haze singer, 33, and her British actor beau, 32, have been fighting engagement rumours for the past several years after first being linked in 2016.

However, despite their relationship enduring endless chatter about its status, it seems Swift's fans knew all along the couple had quietly split. And it all has to do with her current world tour.

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Swift is in the middle of her Eras stadium tour in the US and while a slew of A-listers and the singer's Hollywood friends have been in attendance, fans noticed one glaring absence: Alwyn.

Though the couple is notoriously private, Alwyn has previously attended several of Swift's concerts. Lately, however, he has not been snapped in the audience cheering on his longtime girlfriend. 

Some argued his busy film schedule may have been the reason for his lack of attendance, as he is currently filming the upcoming movie And alongside Emma Stone in New Orleans.

Some eagle-eyed fans noticed, though, that his co-star Stone made the effort to attend a Swift concert despite also being locked into the same filming schedule.

Swift fans and audience members at her sold-out concerts also believe her changing setlist is a subtle nod to her shift in relationship status.

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The singer's initial setlist included the song Invisible String from her 2020 album Folklore, which is said to be about her romance with Alwyn.

At some of her more recent shows, Swift has changed to the song The 1, which is allegedly about another past love.

"In her last show she replaced invisible string with the one… this is real," one fan wrote on social media after the split news was announced.

"I think for this reason Taylor was singing 'the 1' instead of 'invisible string' during the latest dates of #TSTheErasTour," another pointed out.

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A video of Swift appearing to tear up during one performance of her song Champagne Problems, which is also believed to be written about Alwyn, also raised some eyebrows.

Fans believe Swift hinted at the breakup during a March 31 concert, where she is visibly crying while playing the piano.

"This was not the Easter egg I was hoping for this weekend," one fan wrote on a TikTok video of Swift.

According to ET Online, Swift and Alwyn amicably broke up "a few weeks ago".

A source told the outlet that the former couple's breakup "was not dramatic" at all, and the relationship "had just run its course."

"It's why [Alwyn] hasn't been spotted at any shows," the source added.