Musicians Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris dated for 15 months before breaking up on June 1, 2016. Their relationship had been one of Swift’s longest at the time, and fans were surprised when it ended.
However, their story did not stop there. Soon after, Swift began dating actor Tom Hiddleston, while Harris went from praising Swift on social media to publicly arguing about their past work together.
The breakup became even more complicated when other celebrities, including singer Katy Perry and reality TV star Kim Kardashian, got involved. From Swift’s new relationship to Harris’s online outbursts, the months following their split were filled with drama.
June 1, 2016: Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris Break Up
A week after Harris was hospitalized due to a car accident, PEOPLE confirmed the couple had split. A source close to them said there was no major fight or scandal. “Things just don’t work out sometimes. No one cheated,” the source explained. The breakup appeared to be mutual, with no hard feelings at first.
June 2, 2016: Taylor Swift’s Friend Says Calvin Harris Felt “Intimidated”
A friend of Swift told PEOPLE that Harris avoided events where she was honored because he felt “intimidated” by her success. Harris had skipped the Grammys and the Met Gala, which Swift co-chaired.
A source close to Harris said the breakup was not surprising. “They come from very different worlds,” the source said. “Taylor is used to being treated a certain way.” The source also mentioned their age difference—Harris is five years older—as a factor, saying Swift “somewhat lacks real-life experience.”
June 2, 2016: Calvin Harris Tweets About Respect for Swift
Harris posted a tweet saying, “The only truth here is that a relationship came to an end & what remains is a huge amount of love and respect.” Swift retweeted it, showing that they were still on good terms—at least for the moment.
A source close to Harris said he admired Swift’s work ethic. “She works incredibly hard for things she believes in,” the source said. “They are still friendly.”
June 8, 2016: Taylor Swift Is “Just Fine” After the Breakup
Swift was seen smiling after leaving a gym in New York. A source said she was sad but leaning on friends and family. “She’ll be just fine,” the source added.
Her friend Camila Cabello said Swift was doing well. Childhood friend Abigail Anderson also shared a supportive message on Instagram, posting a card that read, “My weird heart loves your weird heart.”
June 15, 2016: Taylor Swift Starts Dating Tom Hiddleston
Just two weeks after the breakup, Swift and Hiddleston were photographed kissing in Rhode Island. They had danced together at the Met Gala while Swift was still with Harris, leading some fans to wonder if their connection started earlier.
A source close to Harris said he did not know about Swift and Hiddleston but had “moved on.”
June 15, 2016: Swift and Harris Delete Each Other From Social Media
Both Swift and Harris removed photos of each other from their accounts, erasing memories of vacations and dates. This move signaled that their friendly breakup was turning more distant.
June 21, 2016: Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston Go Public
The new couple was seen together in Nashville, England, and Rome. They attended Selena Gomez’s concert and spent time with Swift’s friends, including her brother Austin and singer Kelsea Ballerini.
June 24, 2016: Calvin Harris Says He Feels “Free”
Harris posted comments online saying he was “not sad” about the breakup. “I feel amazing right now,” he wrote. He also claimed Swift “controlled the media,” suggesting he felt misrepresented.
June 28, 2016: Calvin Harris Avoids Questions About His Love Life
Photographers asked Harris about dating after Swift, but he ignored them. He accidentally damaged his car while trying to leave, showing his frustration with the media attention.
June 29, 2016: Calvin Harris Takes a Trip to Mexico
Harris enjoyed a yacht trip with friends in Cabo San Lucas. He posted a photo with the caption, “I write songs,” possibly hinting at his focus on music rather than drama.
July 3, 2016: Taylor Swift Celebrates July 4th with Tom Hiddleston
Swift hosted her annual party in Rhode Island, but Harris was not invited. Hiddleston joined her instead, and they spent time with friends like Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
July 8, 2016: Calvin Harris Releases a New Song
Harris dropped the song “Olé,” which fans thought referenced Swift and Hiddleston. Lyrics included, “I see online that you’ve begun to be a good girl and take trips with your boyfriend.” A source said the song was written months earlier.
July 13, 2016: The Truth About Swift and Harris’s Song for Rihanna
Swift’s rep confirmed she co-wrote Harris’s hit “This Is What You Came For” under a fake name. Harris had previously said he would not work with her, which may have hurt Swift.
Harris responded on Twitter, saying Swift wanted to keep the collaboration secret. He accused her of trying to make him “look bad” and mentioned her feud with Katy Perry.
July 17, 2016: Kim Kardashian Leaks Taylor Swift’s Call with Kanye West
Kardashian shared a video of West’s phone call with Swift about his song “Famous.” Swift denied approving the line calling her “that b—-,” but the video reignited their feud.
July 23, 2016: Kim Kardashian Parties with Calvin Harris
Kardashian and Harris celebrated Jennifer Lopez’s birthday in Las Vegas. Harris lip-synced to West’s song, showing support for him over Swift.
September 7, 2016: Calvin Harris Reflects on the Breakup
In an interview, Harris called the aftermath a “media circus.” He admitted his Twitter outburst was a mistake. “It was the wrong situation for both of us,” he said.
By June 2017, Harris said he regretted his reaction. “I was protecting my talent from being belittled,” he explained. “That’s when I snapped.”
Swift and Hiddleston broke up in September 2016, ending another chapter in Swift’s public relationships. The entire saga showed how quickly celebrity breakups can turn into public battles, with social media and outside influences making things even more complicated.
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris’s breakup proved that even amicable splits can turn messy when played out in the public eye. What began as a respectful parting soon spiraled into social media spats, new romances, and celebrity feuds—showing how quickly private relationships can become public dramas.
