Matty Healy References Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department

Matty Healy Drops Taylor Swift ‘Tortured Poets’ Reference at Glastonbury

It might seem like ages ago—at least several Taylor Swift eras ago—since the pop superstar was briefly linked with Matty Healy, the enigmatic frontman of The 1975, in the spring of 2023. Their short-lived relationship, played out in the public eye, was unexpected even for the most devoted Swifties, and it appears that echoes of that whirlwind romance are still reverberating between the two artists.

Healy’s Nod to Taylor Swift on the Glastonbury Stage

On Friday, June 27, The 1975 headlined the iconic Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival. Fans were quick to notice a possible reference during Healy’s set. In a moment captured by Variety and widely shared on social media, Healy told the massive crowd, “What this moment is making me realize is that I probably am the best. I’m probably the best songwriter of my generation. The best, what do we say… a poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am.” He capped off his statement by imploring, “I just wanted to remind you, you know, in the next couple of minutes, these lyrics, this poetry, I bleed for you” (watch the moment here on YouTube).

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Fans and outlets like Marie Claire interpreted this as a sly allusion to Taylor Swift’s record-breaking double album, The Tortured Poets Department—a project many believe draws heavily on Swift’s brief relationship with Healy and her heartbreak in the aftermath (full story at Marie Claire).

‘The Tortured Poets Department’: Matty Healy as Muse?

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has fascinated fans with its candid, often biting lyrics about love, pain, and reinvention. While much speculation surrounded Swift’s longtime relationship with actor Joe Alwyn, upon the album’s release, listeners swiftly picked up on details pointing more toward Healy as the central muse. From references to a “tattooed golden retriever” to lines alluding to self-destructive tendencies and uniquely intimate knowledge, tracks on the album seem to chronicle Swift’s brief but impactful liaison with The 1975 frontman (Cosmopolitan unpacks the album’s references).

On the title track, Swift sings:

“You left your typewriter at my apartment
Straight from the tortured poets department
I think some things I never say.”

Fans drew a direct connection to Healy, a known typewriter enthusiast. Lyrics throughout the album dissect a romance that burned brightly but could not withstand the weight of two outsized, complicated lives.

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For a deeper reading of the lyrics and breakdown of all the purported Healy references across the album, Elle offers a detailed analysis (see Elle’s note-by-note feature).

Healy Comments on His Public Persona and Swift

This isn’t the first time Healy has addressed, directly or obliquely, his connection to Swift and the ensuing media attention. Appearing on the ‘Doomscroll’ podcast in 2024, Healy reflected, “I think that a lot of artists become very interested in their lore, or they become interested in the things that have happened outside of their art that people know about, and they want to address that [in their music.] … I would kind of just be lying if I made a record about, I don’t know, all the stuff that was said about me or my casual romantic liaisons or whatever it may be that I’ve kind of become known for, just because I was famous.” Find the full conversation on Apple Podcasts (listen on Doomscroll).

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Social Media Reaction

Social channels erupted after Healy’s Glastonbury remarks, with Twitter/X users dissecting his statements and speculating about veiled references to Taylor Swift. Variety’s official X account shared the moment, swiftly igniting debate and think pieces among both The 1975 and Swift fandoms (see the viral tweet).

A Relationship That Changed Pop’s Narrative

While Swift and Healy’s connection lasted mere weeks, the ripple effects have been lasting. Swift’s artistic output, Healy’s responses—both cheeky and candid—and the way their fans interact all point to a fascinating case study in how real-life romance shapes modern pop music. For ongoing coverage and thoughtful commentary on both artists, explore the latest at Marie Claire’s Taylor Swift page (follow here).


Taylor Swift and Matty Healy were photographed leaving ‘The Electric Lady’ studio in Manhattan in May 2023—highlighting how much their brief encounter continues to inspire headlines and speculation across the music world.

William Quick
William Quick

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