Matty Healy might be embracing his alter ego, embodying a tattooed golden retriever or, perhaps, a tormented bard. During his June 27th performance at the storied Glastonbury Festival in England, the lead singer of The 1975 captivated the ears of Taylor Swift's devoted fans when he made a seemingly sarcastic allusion to the "Lavender Haze" crooner, with whom he had a fleeting romance earlier in 2023.
"Let me be earnest for a moment with all of you," Matty declared, as captured by Variety. "This very instant is making me realize that I might just be the best. Yes, I am arguably the foremost songwriter of my generation." Transitioning smoothly, he hinted at Taylor's album, The Tortured Poet's Department, and added, "The best, we say... A poet, my fellows, that is what I embody."
Engaged to Gabbriette Bechtel since June 2024, the musician also donned the mantle of a "generational wordsmith" as he set the stage for his band's upcoming act. "Allow me to remind you," Matty shared, sipping from a pint glass, "these lyrics, this poetry, I pour my heart and soul into, solely for you."
While Matty refrained from mentioning Taylor by name during his performance, his self-proclamation as a "poet" resonated as a nod to her 2024 track inspired by their relationship. Taylor's title track begins, "You left your typewriter at my apartment / Straight from the Tortured Poets Department," hinting at unspoken sentiments. In a subsequent verse, she compares her lover to a loyal canine, singing, "You smoked, then indulged in seven bars of chocolate / We decreed Charlie Puth deserved greater fame / I scratch your head, you drift off to sleep / Like a tattooed golden retriever."
Yet, Matty's Glastonbury performance piqued Swifties' interest for more reasons than just his poetic self-identification. Fans also noticed a Peter Pan pin adorning his attire – a character he has previously used to describe himself, and one Taylor referenced in her "Peter" track from TTPD, which many fans deduce is about Matty.
Eight months prior to his poetic remarks, Matty sparked speculation among fans once again when he seemed to take a subtle jab at Taylor, who began dating Travis Kelce months after their split, during an interview about his musical inspirations, amidst his burgeoning fame for diverse reasons.
"I'd be dishonest if I created a record solely about the gossip surrounding me or my casual romantic escapades," Matty revealed on an October episode of the Doomscroll podcast, "or whatever I've become known for, merely because of my celebrity status." He continued, "Many artists become engrossed in their lore, or fixated on occurrences outside their art that the public is aware of, and they yearn to address them. And that's understandable." However, Matty concluded, "I think that's an evident theme to draw from. I'm simply uninterested in that narrative."
While fans believe several of Taylor's songs are inspired by Matty, they also perceive the same about her ex, Joe Alwyn.
