Matty Healy is no stranger to controversy, but when it comes to Taylor Swift, he’s playing his cards close to the chest.
In a recent appearance on the Doomscroll podcast, Healy shared insights into his approach to songwriting amid intense public scrutiny—remarks that many fans see as subtle nods to his rumored history with Swift.
Admitting he “used to write about relationships a lot more,” Healy explained, “Last year I became a way more well-known public figure for loads of different reasons. The only reason that I was interested in is what I was doing.”
“I think that a lot of artists, they become very interested in their lore, or they become interested in the things that have happened outside of their art that people know about and they want to address that, and fair enough.”
Healy continued, “Honestly, I would kind of just be lying if I made a record about, I don’t know, all the stuff that was said about me or my casual romantic liaisons — or whatever it may be that I’ve kind of become known for just because I was famous.”
“That’s an obvious thing to draw from, and I’m just not interested in [it]. The idea of making a record about something that personally happened to me, that by the time I put it out is gonna be, like, two years old… I see people doing that as well, and it’s not interesting,” he added.
Speculation about Healy and Swift first emerged in early 2023, following Swift’s high-profile split from longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn.
Rumors of a brief romance between the 1975 frontman and Swift gained momentum when Healy was spotted attending several Eras Tour dates, including performances in Nashville and Philadelphia, where he even joined opener Phoebe Bridgers on stage. They were then photographed leaving New York’s Electric Lady Studios together in May, with Healy later seen near Swift’s apartment that same day.
Swift’s The Tortured Poet’s Department has been a treasure trove for fans eager to decode possible references to Healy.
Songs like “Guilty as Sin?” and “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” have fueled speculation that the 1975 frontman inspired parts of the album. The title track’s line, “You smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate,” struck a chord with fans, who pointed to Healy’s on-stage smoking habit and the 1975’s hit “Chocolate.” Another reference to a “tattooed golden retriever” has been interpreted as a poetic nod to Healy’s blend of charming unpredictability.
In April, Healy brushed off the rumors when asked by paparazzi about a supposed “diss track” aimed at him on Swift’s album. Healy responded: “My diss track? Oh! I haven’t really listened to that much of it, but I’m sure it’s good.”
While both artists have since moved on—Swift is currently dating NFL star Travis Kelce, while Healy recently got engaged to model Gabbriette Bechtell—the fascination with their short-lived connection endures. Healy’s recent comments have only reignited speculation, with fans reading between the lines for clues about his feelings toward the pop superstar.
Meanwhile, Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has been a powerhouse on the Billboard charts. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming Swift’s 14th No. 1 album—a milestone that ties her with Jay-Z for the second-most No. 1 albums ever, just behind The Beatles. In its first week, the album racked up 2.6 million equivalent album sales in the U.S., with 1.9 million in pure sales, marking her biggest sales week yet.
The success didn’t stop there. The album held onto the No. 1 spot for 15 weeks, a personal best for the singer-songwriter, and made her the first artist in the modern era to have seven albums that each sold over a million copies in their debut week.