Matty Healy Just Gave His First Thoughts on Taylor Swift’s New Album

We would never advocate for hounding celebrities out and about, but in this case, gotta say we salute citizen journalism (a.k.a. paparazzi). Matty Healy, lead singer of The 1975, was just asked how he feels about Taylor Swift’s blockbuster album The Tortured Poets Department, which fans have speculated is largely about their relationship.

For those who haven’t listened or caught up to it yet, TTPD, as a double album, covers a lot of ground, but one idea referenced in many songs is a passionate but all-too-brief affair that left the singer heartbroken. It’s Swift’s first album since her split from longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn, and over the course of recording it, she dated and split from Healy.

But no, she doesn’t “just write about her exes,” there are also songs about childhood, fame, self-loathing, and depression. The Swiftoverse is expansive!

Anyway…

Robert Kamau

In a video posted by Entertainment Tonight, a paparazzo asks Matty Healy to rate his “diss track compared to the 30 others” on the album, presumably referring to the song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” though, honestly, a lot of the tracks don’t paint him in a very flattering light.

“Diss track?” Healy asks. Then he smiles, says he “hasn’t really listened to that much” of the album but that he’s “sure it’s good,” smiles, thanks the pap and walks away.

This is by far the best answer he could have given, in that it gives Swift’s most ardent fans nothing to use against him. And to be fair, Swift herself did write on Instagram about the album and the time period it’s about: “There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed.”

That is Swiftese for “Please don’t bully my exes, I’m dating Travis Kelce now and we’re happy.”

On TikTok, commenters seem to agree, with many applauding Healy’s decision to praise Taylor’s work rather than create any drama.