Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album “The Tortured Poets Department” on April 19, 2024 to widespread commercial success. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and broke Spotify’s record for most-streamed album in a single day.
Some of the songs on “The Tortured Poets Department” have been rumored to be about Swift’s brief relationship with English musician Matty Healy in 2023. Healy is the frontman of the band The 1975. While much speculation surrounded references to Healy on the album, neither he nor his family have publicly commented on or acknowledged the lyrics.
Speaking on the British talk show “Loose Women”, Healy’s mother Denise Welch did not indicate she was aware of Swift’s new album when asked about it by the other panelists. Welch said she hadn’t “heard anything about it” and wished Swift “all the best.” Welch portraying a lack of knowledge about “The Tortured Poets Department,” which has gained significant commercial success, was seen by some as a subtle dig at Swift.
Separately, when asked by paparazzi how he would rate any “diss tracks” about him on the album, Healy said he had not listened to much of “The Tortured Poets Department” but was sure it was good. Healy’s casual response was viewed as an indifferent stance towards the speculated references in Swift’s lyrics. For her part, Welch’s brief comments suggested she did not want to engage further on her son’s past relationship or the album’s songs.
