Andrew Scott brushes off theories that he inspired the name of Taylor Swift's album The Tortured Poets Department with THAT group chat

Andrew Scott has brushed off fans' wild theories that his Whatsapp group with Joe Alwyn inspired the name of Taylor Swift's record-breaking album The Tortured Poets Department.

The Sherlock star, 47, addressed the claims in a new interview with Variety, insisting that the chat, which he called Tortured Man Club, was a short-lived idea that consisted of just 'three texts.'

Following the release of The Tortured Poets Department, fans were quick to theorise that Taylor's album title was a dig at her ex-boyfriend Joe.

Back in 2022, Joe revealed a mutual friend created a WhatsApp group with him and Andrew's pal Paul Mescal, called The Tortured Man Club.

They later explained to Variety that Andrew 'started the group,' with Paul saying: 'He's just on it every day. He's just on it by himself.'

Andrew Scott has brushed off fans' wild theories that his Whatsapp group with Joe Alwyn inspired the name of Taylor Swift's record-breaking album The Tortured Poets Department

The Sherlock star addressed the claims in a new interview with Variety , insisting that the chat, which he called Tortured Man Club, was a short-lived idea that consisted of just 'three texts'

Joe jokingly added: 'Just messaging himself good mornings.'

Andrew has now set the record straight, telling Variety: 'Let me tell you what that is!... So they were about to play these tortured characters, and I had played a tortured character in Fleabag. 

'It wasn't about our own characteristics!... I think there were three texts, like, ''Hey, guys.'' You know those groups that you set up, and they just collapse.'

Sharing his thoughts on Taylor's new album, Andrew added: 'Taylor's new album is sensational! 

'I texted her yesterday to say how amazing it is…I think she is just a force of nature, just an extraordinary human, and this album is really, really amazing.'

During the interview, Andrew shared that he's grown to dislike the use of the term 'openly gay' when it comes to describing his sexuality.

He said: 'It's wonderful to be able to talk about sexuality in an open way. But I do feel sometimes, other people—and by other people, I mean straight people—don't have to explain or talk about their sexuality every time they go to work…

'The idea that I'm being defiant by just being exactly who I am… Be open about it? Why wouldn't you be open about it?... But the word 'openly,' for me, just seems a little loaded.' 

In 2022, Joe revealed a mutual friend created a WhatsApp group called The Tortured Man Club, and after his split fromTaylor Swift, fans quickly claimed her album's title was a dig at him

During the interview, Andrew shared that he's grown to dislike the use of the term 'openly gay' when it comes to describing his sexuality

During the interview, Andrew also reflected on the sad passing of his mother Nora following a 'sudden illness,' just a month before Ripley was released

The All Of Us Strangers star has also been promoting his role in the Netflix thriller series Ripley, which hit the streaming service earlier this year.

Andrew said: 'I found an enormous amount to like. There's something about that character that, I think, a lot of people see themselves in. And I think it's to do with being an outsider…

'He probably is more of an artistic sort, but he doesn't feel he's got the class to call himself that…

'I'm always really interested in the vulnerability of people. What's the thing they're unconfident about? What are they hiding? It was hard to access that…

'Not everybody is charming and capable and socially adept and sexy. You have to advocate for people who don't have it easy. That's what made me have some degree of affection for him.

'I'm just concerned about how it would be perceived, how it would change things for me…

'When I played James Moriarty [in 'Sherlock,'] I was younger than people wanted the character to be. And they'd go, ''I wanted the character to have a beard and wear a top hat, and this little f****r is now playing it like this, and I don't want that!''

'The biggest challenge for you is to put your dukes up and go, Sorry, but this is this.' 

During the interview, Andrew also reflected on the sad passing of his mother Nora following a 'sudden illness,' just a month before Ripley was released.

He shared: 'It came very suddenly to our family, and it’s landed in the middle of all of this stuff. Her spirit is so alive in me in the immediate aftermath of her death… her way of dealing with people was so kind, but she wasn’t very good at small talk. 

'She connected with people in a very particular way. What I was taught was the idea of being authentically yourself…It’s a really funny thing, to be honest. 

'I can’t disappear the fact that this has happened in the midst of all this. 

'The juxtaposition of these two extremes in my life where all these projects are coming out, and I’ve had to be much more public-facing than I usually am, at a time when I’m going through this extraordinary personal loss.'

Nora's death was confirmed in a statement on March 9, with family members adding that she passed away on Thursday March 7 surrounded by her family at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.

An obituary read: 'It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Nora Scott (née Boyle), beloved wife of Jim, mother of Sarah, Andrew and Hannah.

'Scott, Sandymount, Dublin, formerly Omagh Co. Tyrone, March 7th 2024 peacefully surrounded by her loving family and best friend Anne, in St Vincent's Hospital following a sudden illness.

'Nora will be deeply missed by her beloved husband Jim, her loving children Sarah, Andrew and Hannah.'

In 2018, Nora revealed Anthony Hopkins sent her 'more than three dozen red roses,' after finding out she was ill when speaking to Scott on the set of King Lear.

Hopkins, 86, starred in the BBC's Shakespeare adaptation as an ‘English Stalin’ with Scott playing Edgar - who becomes Lear’s secret protector.

She told RTE’s Ryan Tubridy at the time: 'There was probably more than three dozen red roses and attached to them was a little card from Anthony saying "Be well, sending hugs", and all sorts of things.'

Read the full interview in the latest edition of Variety, on sale now

'I was thrilled to get such a gift and for the kind thought that promoted it.

'Now I have recovered, I can enjoy these exquisite roses that grace our hall. It was such a beautiful gift.'

In January, Scott and his co-star Paul Mescal admitted they weren't too keen on their family members watching their new film, gay drama All Of Us Strangers.

The movie stars Scott as a screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home who enters into a relationship with a mysterious neighbour, played by Mescal, 27.

The film features several intimate scenes between the actors which the pair discussed during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

Asked if their families had seen the flick yet, Mescal said: 'With the Irish premiere, trying to allocate tickets to all the aunties and uncles is a tricky business.

'They have seen my bum before but there is a little more going on in this movie I would say!'

Scott added: 'I don't want to be there when my parents watch it!'

Read the full interview in the latest edition of Variety, on sale now.