INSIDE HER $1 BILLION MEGA TOUR
“She didn’t necessarily expect it to get serious this quickly, but it feels right and she’s convinced this love will last forever.”
That definitely wasn’t the case with her ex, even after six years together. “Taylor and Joe’s relationship wasn’t as perfect as everyone assumed,” says the source, adding that the spark fizzled long ago. “The romance completely vanished. Joe became selfish and put his own needs before hers. He was also intimidated by her fame.”
Her Eras tour is a perfect example. The actor, 32, “didn’t realize all the work that went into it, from choosing the backup dancers and set design to working on choreography during 12-hour rehearsals, and he wasn’t very supportive. He barely ever came to the studio,” says the source, noting that this is the first time Taylor has been on the road in five years. “Last time, they had just started dating and Joe showed up at a handful of shows. Meanwhile, Matty has been at nearly every stop cheering her on.” As a successful musician himself, adds the source, “he appreciates her more than Joe ever could.”
HE’S THE ONE
And, unlike Joe, he’s ready and willing to commit. An impulsive proposal “is just the kind of grand romantic gesture Taylor’s always dreamed about,” says the source. “Not only will she be overjoyed, it will also make an amazing song!” The singer, 33, and the Englishman, who’s spent time at her home in Nashville, “have even started looking at houses together in LA.” Taylor already owns a Beverly Hills mansion, but “there’s an even more secluded $48 million estate for sale about 10 minutes away.” With the blockbuster success of her tour (see sidebar), “she’s earned it,” adds the source. “The world is her oyster right now.”
Still, some are worried about her association with Matty, given his dubious reputation. Fans released an open letter to Taylor on May 17 to express their “disappointment” in the 34-year-old’s “acts and controversies that deeply trouble us,” including racist and homophobic comments he made on a podcast in February. “We urge you to reflect on your associate’s behavior…[and] take a stand against discrimination,” the letter reads, noting that Taylor’s “silence is palpable.”
They’re not wrong about his past. Matty, who has struggled with addiction, “definitely cultivates a
With sold-out shows in every city — and some tickets selling for more than $10,000 apiece — plus long lines at the merchandise tables, experts estimate that Taylor stands to earn $1.5 billion by the time her 52-date Eras tour wraps up in Inglewood, Calif., in August. “It could become the biggestgrossing tour ever, and just as important, the concerts have gotten near-universal acclaim from fans and critics,” says the source. After nearly 20 years in the music industry and her share of setbacks — from the sale of her music rights to public feuds with the likes of Kim Kardashian — “Taylor feels so fortunate to be one of the most successful musicians of all time. She’s worked hard to get this far — and it has paid off!”
provocative persona, and he often pushes it too far,” says the source. “But Taylor knows his heart. She wouldn’t be with someone who didn’t share her values.” While she hasn’t spoken out yet, she’s repeatedly made gestures — from a thumbs-up to someone holding a “You OK?” sign in Tampa, Fla., to subtly declaring her love for Matty on cstage in Nashville. “Those were meant as secret messages to show she knows what she’s doing and they shouldn’t worry.”
And at the Foxborough show, she made it clear Matty isn’t going anywhere. “It’s definitely Taylor’s style to get public revenge on an ex so, yes, saying she was happier than ever was a dig at Joe,” says the source. “But it’s also true. Matty is her soulmate, and she plans to spend the rest of her life with him.” ◼