Matty Healy dismisses podcast controversy amid Taylor Swift romance

Music

By Riley Cardoza

May 30, 2023 | 7:40am

Three months after Matty Healy recorded a controversial “Adam Friedland Show” podcast episode, he wants haters to “Shake It Off.”

The 1975 frontman told the New Yorker in an interview published Monday that his February comments don’t “actually matter” and were “a little bit” bait for naysayers.

“Nobody is sitting there at night slumped at their computer, and their boyfriend comes over and goes, ‘What’s wrong, darling?’ and they go, ‘It’s just this thing with Matty Healy,’” the singer explained. “That doesn’t happen.”

When Healy, 34, subsequently acknowledged that “maybe it does” happen, he called those affected “deluded” individuals.

“You’re either lying that you are hurt, or you’re a bit mental for being hurt,” he claimed. “It’s just people going, ‘Oh, there’s a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am.’

“And I kind of want them to do that, because they’re demonstrating something so base level,” the songwriter continued.

While Healy made headlines for laughing at racist remarks, including comments about rapper Ice Spice, when the podcast aired, criticism ramped up earlier this month amid rumors he is dating Taylor Swift.

One of the “Anti-Hero” singer’s fans even launched a #SpeakUpNow campaign requesting Swift denounce Healy’s statements, with many canceling their orders for the 33-year-old’s “Speak Now” re-release in protest.

“Use your platform responsibly and intentionally,” the open letter reads, in part. “Advocate for inclusivity, celebrate diversity and promote empathy and understanding.”

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Swift has yet to comment on the podcast episode, nor has she confirmed her relationship status.

The 12-time Grammy winner did, however, collaborate with Ice Spice on a “Karma” remix, which the 23-year-old performed over the weekend during the MetLife Stadium stop on Swift’s Eras Tour.

Healy, for his part, issued a lukewarm apology in April, telling concertgoers, “I just feel a bit bad, and I’m kind of a bit sorry if I’ve offended you. Ice Spice, I’m sorry.”

While he spoke about Swift in his New Yorker profile, Healy did not address the romance speculation that kicked off this month following her and Joe Alwyn’s breakup.