Matt Healy hits back: ‘Swifties need to calm down’ in social media clash over cryptic post aimed at Taylor Swift

Matty Healy can’t escape his past, especially when it comes to his brief romance with Taylor Swift. The 1975 vocalist was recently dragged into a controversy on social media between his own fans and so-called Swifties, who claim that Healy sent a hint to the singer.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: (L to R) Taylor Swift, Nick Grimshaw and Matt Healy attend the Universal Music Brits party hosted by Bacardi at The Soho House Pop-Up on February 25, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images for Soho House & Bacardi)

The speculation erupted when Healy, 35, posted Charli XCX’s emotional new song “So I” on Instagram, a track dedicated to her late friend Sophia. The song’s lyrics about “always” having someone on your mind after “push[ing them] away” sparked a frenzy among Swift’s fans. One user on X (formerly Twitter) questioned whether the lyrics were a subtle signal to Swift, whom Healy briefly dated last year.

“Are we reaching to think that these lyrics on HIS story could be a signal to Taylor??” the fan tweeted, igniting a firestorm of debate online.

Another user responded sharply, “We need a new psychological term for a contemporary form of narcissism that is somehow not refracted internally onto the self but rather onto the object of a standom.”

Healy’s blunt response
Healy, seemingly fed up with the drama, liked a screenshot of this response when it was shared on Instagram, indicating his agreement with the critique of the fan frenzy.

This social media skirmish comes just a week after Us Weekly reported that Healy finds Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” amusing despite being initially “blindsided” by it.

The record, which features songs about Swift’s ex Joe Alwyn and current boyfriend Travis Kelce, also includes tracks that many believe reference her brief fling with Healy. Songs like “Down Bad,” “But Daddy I Love Him,” and “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” are speculated to be about Healy.

When confronted about the album shortly after its release, Healy claimed he hadn’t “really listened to that much of it” but added, “I’m sure it’s good.” His family members, including his mom and aunt, also weighed in, hinting at more layers to the story.

It was a brief romance
Healy and Swift’s whirlwind romance began in May 2023 and ended by June due to scheduling conflicts and incompatibility. Despite the short-lived nature of their relationship, Swifties were quick to voice their disapproval, even penning an open letter urging Swift to address Healy’s past controversies.

Since the split, Healy has moved on with model Gabbriette Bechtel, featured in Charli XCX’s “360” music video. Meanwhile, Swift is happily involved with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who recently shared his efforts to stay “grounded” while “living the dream.”

The social media clash underscores the lingering fascination with Swift and Healy’s past, as well as the intense scrutiny celebrities face from their fan bases. For now, Healy’s message to Swifties is clear: calm down and move on.