Joe Alwyn and Taylor Swift have decided to keep their relationship secret

The private romance between Joe Alwyn and Taylor Swift was intentional, according to the actor.

The 33-year-old Types of Kindness Star told The style of the Sunday Times in a new interview that he and the 34-year-old “Fortnight” singer had agreed to keep the “details” of their romance “private” when they were together.

“As everyone knows, we mutually decided – both of us, by mutual consent – to keep the more private details of our relationship private,” Alwyn said. “It was never something that could be commodified and I see no reason to change that now.”

“And look, it’s been a little over a year now and I’m lucky to be at a really great point in my life, both professionally and personally. I feel really good,” he added.

When asked by the publication if he had heard Swift’s latest album, The “Tortured Poets” section – which fans believe may consist of material inspired by the former couple’s split – Alwyn said: “When I think about what I’m about to say, I think and hope that everyone and anyone can feel empathy for it. … This is not a direct answer to your question, but just a thought on what I want to talk about.”

The Catherine, called Birdy The actor also did not comment on whether he is still in contact with Swift or has a new girlfriend, referring to his previous, much-publicized relationship with the Grammy winner.

“I’m sure you can understand why, given the noise and criticism of my past relationship, I wouldn’t want to simply open the door to such things at the moment,” Alwyn told Just.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A source previously told PEOPLE following the split that Alwyn is “dating someone and is happy.” The insider also noted that the actor has “let go” of Swift and “certainly isn’t talking bad about her,” adding, “He was in love with her, and it just didn’t work out.”

Alwyn and Swift’s split after a six-year relationship was largely due to “differences in their personalities,” a source close to the former couple told PEOPLE at the time.

The couple was first linked in May 2017. Their first public appearance together took place a year later in 2018. In an interview in August 2019, the “Anti-Hero” singer The guard von Alwyn: “Our relationship is not up for discussion.”

Still, Swift has given some insight into dating in public over the years, including her midnight Album she released before her separation from Alwyn.

She previously described her song “Lavender Haze” as a reference to the challenges they faced during their time together.

“In my six-year relationship, we’ve had to dodge weird rumors and tabloid stuff and we just ignore it,” she said in a now-deleted Instagram video about the song.

Since the split, Swift has been dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.