Who Is Matt Healy, Taylor Swift's Rumored New Boyfriend?

Just weeks after news broke that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn ended their six-year relationship, rumors have surfaced that the 33-year-old pop star is now dating Matty Healy, the 34-year-old frontman of The 1975. According to The Sun, the singers are reportedly "madly in love," a claim that was initially dismissed by many fans. However, when Healy traveled from the Philippines to watch Swift perform in Nashville on May 5, the speculation became harder to ignore.

This isn't the first time that Swift and Healy have been linked romantically. In 2014, they were rumored to be dating, but the relationship never materialized. Fast forward to the present, and fans have gone into detective mode, dissecting every move the two artists make. They've even speculated that the singers are exchanging romantic messages while on stage. So, are Taylor Swift and Matty Healy dating or simply enjoying the attention their rumored relationship has generated? But first, let's go over Matty Healy and the controversies he's been involved in lately.

Who Is Matty Healy?

Matthew "Matty" Healy, the enigmatic lead singer of the British rock band The 1975, was born in London, England, on April 8, 1989. He is the son of actors Tim Healy and Denise Welch. He grew up in a creative environment, which ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in music. Matty formed The 1975 with friends Ross MacDonald, Adam Hann, and George Daniel when they were still in high school. The band's name was inspired by a note Matty found in a book of beat poetry, which had "1 June, The 1975" scribbled in the margin.

The 1975 emerged as an indie rock band with a unique sound that combines elements of '80s pop, R&B, and electronic music. Since their debut in 2013 with the album "The 1975," they have released four critically acclaimed albums, including "I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It" (2016) and "A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships" (2018). The band's catchy, introspective tracks like "Chocolate" and "Love It If We Made It" have gained them a devoted following worldwide.

In February 2020, Matty made his relationship with British singer-songwriter FKA twigs Instagram official, but things didn't work out. Work commitments pulled them apart, reportedly. Before dating FKA twigs, Healy was in a four-year relationship with model Gabriella Brooks from 2015 to 2019. The Sun reported that Gabriella ended the relationship, tired of Matty's party lifestyle and the strain it put on their bond. In 2015, Matty was rumored to be briefly involved with singer Halsey after attending a The 1975 concert together and collaborating on the track "Ghost." However, both denied that their breakup inspired any of Halsey's songs.

Matty recently got candid about his struggles with addiction and how his heroin use affected the band in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. He explained that his addiction marked one of the first real tests for the band, as it was the first time one of them was doing something the others weren't, leading to the existence of a secret within the group.

The singer went on to recall the night his bandmates intervened while working on their 2018 album, "A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships." Despite their concerns, Healy admitted that he pushed back, essentially telling them to respect his drug addiction. The next morning, he woke up with an "emotional hangover," realizing the cringeworthy nature of his response and how it would become an anecdote his bandmates would tease him about for years.

Matty also discussed his road to recovery, including the striking realization that occurred when he arrived at a rehab facility. He met many people who had lost everything due to their addiction, and in contrast, he acknowledged that he had not lost anything but was walking a very thin line. It was his band's intervention that led Matty to confront his addiction and seek help, ultimately saving both his life and The 1975's future.

What Controversies Has Matty Healy Been Involved in?

Matty has had his fair share of controversies, which date back to 2014 when he faced accusations of Islamophobia and misogyny on Twitter. In 2020, he faced backlash for using the Black Lives Matter movement to promote his music, leading to an apology and deactivation of his Twitter account. In February 2023, he faced further backlash after making inappropriate comments on The Adam Friedland Show. He said he would “f*** Friedland’s sister because ‘she’s hot’”, and also speculated that rapper Ice Spice, who is Dominican and Nigerian, was Chinese or Hawaiian" (he then imitated these accents).

In recent times, Healy's onstage antics have raised eyebrows, such as his rant during a concert in Leeds, which he started with, "I don't think it's a racist thing to say..." His bandmates quickly cut him off and started playing a song.

He has also been accused of mistreating fans, when a fan recorded him making fun of the way her name sounds at a signing.

At various live concerts, Matty has made out with various fans on stage (always asking for their consent first) and has been seen sucking the fingers of fans who reach out to him and try to touch his face.

Born to Coronation Street legend Denise Welch and Benidorm actor Tim Healy, Matty's ties to the spotlight also come from his family, including his younger brother Louis, an actor in Emmerdale, so he is often referred to as a nepo baby.

Despite some fans defending his actions as part of his stage persona, many believe it's time for Healy to reflect on his behavior and consider the impact his words and actions have on others. However, he has been hailed by some as an ardent defender of progressive values, such as abortion, while on stage.

Are Matty Healy and Taylor Swift Dating?

Recently, Matty Healy's name has become synonymous with Taylor Swift, as the two have been spotted together on numerous occasions. According to the Daily Mail, photographs show the 33-year-old Swift and 34-year-old Healy in a car together following Swift's second sold-out stadium concert in Nashville. The pair were reportedly en route to Swift's condo, with the images capturing them looking at each other in the back of a black SUV around 12:30 a.m.

Matty appeared to be wearing the same bracelets he sported when he was seen attending Swift's concert at Nissan Stadium. Fans noticed the "Chocolate" singer standing in the VIP tent alongside stars like Gigi Hadid and Lily Aldridge, who are known to be close friends with Taylor.

Fueling the rumors further, fans have theorized that the two artists have been sending secret messages to each other during their recent concerts. At her Nashville show, Taylor looked at the camera and mouthed, "This is about you, you know who you are. I love you." Interestingly, Matty had mouthed the exact same words during his May 3 concert in the Philippines.

“It’s super-early days, but it feels right,” a source told The Sun. “They first dated, very briefly, almost 10 years ago, but the timings just didn’t work out.”

While neither Taylor nor Matty has confirmed their rumored relationship, their public appearances and cryptic messages have certainly piqued the curiosity of fans. The romance speculation has also introduced The 1975's music to a broader audience, further cementing the band's status as a prominent act in the music industry. Some speculate this is nothing more than a PR stunt to help Matty's band reach a new level of stardom.