Harry Styles and Taylor Russell's Rumored Relationship Is "Not the Same as It Was"

For years, the scandal of Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde's age-gap relationship took over, turning their film, Don’t Worry Darling, into one of the most talked about films of 2022. But when the pair split, Harry went under the radar — until rumors of his relationship with Netflix star Taylor Russell started making the rounds. But in May 2024, their breakup was confirmed by various sources.

Harry and Taylor seemed to be going strong — they had been spotted together walking around London, going on vacation, supporting each other’s performances — but the bliss couldn’t last forever. So why did Harry Styles and Taylor Russell break up? The truth might just be “as it was.”

One of the biggest obstacles for working celebrity couples to manage is distance. Often, they can be forced to tour around the world or work for months at a time in a different country. Plus, celebrities’ lives are constantly changing.

One moment, they can be working nonstop on a play, such as when Taylor was performing nightly in the National Theatre’s The Effect and when Harry toured Europe in the summer of 2023. The next moment, they could be taking a break and have nothing to do, which could upset the pattern of their relationship.

The Sun was the first to break the news of Harry and Taylor’s breakup thanks to an alleged friend of the couple. “Harry and Taylor have ended their relationship,” the “pal” shared. “They went through a rough patch after their trip to Japan and are taking some time apart. He’s been in America and she’s been in London. They made a lovely couple and it was obvious Taylor made Harry happy.”

The source added, “Things have become strained recently though and they’ve taken some time out.”

While this might come as a shock, considering the fact that Taylor recently signed on to Korean thriller Hope while Harry may be working on a new album as he takes a break from touring, the two might just be at different points in their lives.

Harry and Taylor never spoke publicly about their relationship, but between several public appearances and various sources speaking on their behalf, it was well-known that they were going strong. Just before news of their breakup, a source told People that they were “fairly serious” in early May 2024.

A couple of months earlier in March 2024, a source told Life & Style, “[Harry is] even looking at rings. He really is devoted to her, so much that he’s ready to take this to the next level … They’re together every minute of their spare time. Harry is genuinely impressed by Taylor; she’s talented and yet down-to-earth and unassuming. She’s very independent, which keeps him more interested.”

“He just turned 30 and he’s thinking about starting a family,” they added. “Getting married is on his mind a lot these days, and Taylor’s everything he could want in a partner.”

On the other hand, when asked about her relationship status, Taylor has been much more focused on her work.

“My work is the most interesting thing to me, so that’s what I’ll say about that,” when asked by Vanity Fair about the extra attention she has been receiving. It seems like Harry has had enough fame for a lifetime while Taylor is on the up-and-up, so perhaps there’s more to their breakup than distance. Harry is ready to settle down, and Taylor might not be there yet.