Matty Healy’s Mom Denise Welch Takes Aim at Taylor Swift

Matty Healy’s mom, Denise Welch, has admitted she’s glad she never became Taylor Swift’s mother-in-law.

Appearing on the Thursday, July 24 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the British TV personality, 67, took aim at the pop star.

“Obviously on pain of death can I talk about that episode but not being her mother-in-law is a role that I’m glad that I lost,” she confessed after being asked by Cohen about what she thought of Swift’s album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, which is rumored to be an ode to Healy.

When the WWHL’s audience audibly gasped at the remarks, Welch insisted, “Not that I have anything against her at all. It was just — it was tricky.”

Healy, 36, and Swift, 35, were most recently romantically linked in 2023 although both have kept rather tight-lipped about the exact nature of their relationship at the time.

Speaking on the talk show, Welch appeared to take issue that Swift was able to share her side of the story via her music when it comes to her love life while those on the other side faced backlash from fans for any remarks made.

“She — listen, you’re not allowed to say anything and then she writes a whole album, you know, about it,” Welch continued. “But Matty has taken it all in completely good grace. He’s very happy with his amazing fiancée Gabriella [also known by her stage name Gabrietta], who is gorgeous.

Welch concluded, “And so, we’ve moved on.”

Healy and Swift were first linked after the “Bad Blood” singer was spotted attending several The 1975 concerts in late 2014. Healy revealed during a radio interview at the time that he and Swift “swapped phone numbers.”

He teased, “I mean, bloody hell, what am I going to do? Go out with Taylor Swift? She’s a sensation. I wouldn’t say no!”

However, two years later he caused controversy when he admitted it would be “emasculating” to date someone more famous than him – and namedropped Swift.

“It’s just interesting to me how interested the world is about Taylor Swift,” Healy told Q Magazine in 2016. “The reason I mention that is because if I had [properly] gone out with Taylor Swift, I would’ve been, ‘F**king hell, I am not being Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.’ You know, ‘F**k. That.’”

After finding himself in hot water for the comments, Healy walked them back while speaking to Elle. He insisted he’s “not a misogynist” but could be “an idiot on occasion.”

“I have said on countless occasions that I found her to be one of the most gracious, hard-working, creatively gifted, and beautiful women that I have had the pleasure to meet. I personally have a lot of respect and admiration for her. Why would I not?” he added.

While Healy is now engaged to Gabrietta, Swift has also moved on with her love life. She continues to enjoy her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce, who she has been dating since summer 2023.