Matty Healy, the Musician Taylor Swift Might Be Dating, Is Seriously Problematic

On top of being a one-trick pony of a producer, Jack Antonoff can also be held accountable for allegedly reintroducing Taylor Swift and Matty Healy.

Taylor Swift has perfected the art of self-promotion with such precision that it would be impressive if it weren’t so off-putting. As a celebrity, part of the job is to carefully curate a persona that is both imperfect and relatable while also standing on a pedestal above the rest. She remains human, yet never too much to overshadow her star power. This partly explains why her romantic life has always been a subject of gossip. It provides glimpses of her human side, highlighting moments of falling in love and heartbreak, while also yielding material for catchy, radio-ready singles. However, her reported relationship with The 1975’s Matty Healy serves as a reminder that her public image has always been performative.

Over the years, Swift has earned significant goodwill from fans for speaking out on social justice issues. While some of her attempts may have been clumsy, such as utilizing a crew of wealthy, conventionally attractive women to sell girl-power feminism 101 narratives, or featuring the Queer Eye cast in her music video to demonstrate support for LGBTQ+ rights, there have been moments that seemed genuinely sincere. From the denunciation of her father’s beliefs in the documentary Miss Americana to her recent act of defending a fan against a security guard during a concert, there is ample evidence pointing toward her best intentions.

However, if Swift is indeed dating Matty Healy, it becomes apparent that she only acts as an activist when it benefits her. Her highly publicized romance with Tom Hiddleston was embarrassing, while her long-term relationship with Joe Alwyn appeared wholesome from an outsider’s perspective. Healy, though, gives some fans pause due to his past offensive remarks. From engaging in Nazi salutes at concerts to sexualizing and demeaning musician Ice Spice, as well as displaying general misogyny and racism, Healy is not just a mediocre musician but also a piece of sh*t.

Adding to everything, it has recently come to light in a previously deleted part of a podcast episode, that Healy himself admitted to watching videos of women of color being subjected to sexual degradation. Swift fans should be concerned about the abundance of evidence showcasing Healy’s abhorrent behavior.

Swift had earned goodwill following her album Folklore and the re-release of Red, but it’s rapidly being siphoned away by her alleged relationship with Healy. Fans need to stop being surprised when their idols mess up — it’s par for the course and this is the very definition of a bad look.