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After sharing the long nightmare that constituted May, Swifties have finally watched their world settle back on its hinges: The brief romance between Taylor Swift and 1975 frontman Matty Healy is apparently over, as Healy himself seemed to address during a concert appearance on June 5.
In a video circulating amongst 1975 fans and Swifties alike, Healy pointed out an audience member in the crowd holding a sign, to which he responded, “My friend had some very, very beautiful signs that said, ‘You are loved.’” Thankful for the display, he addressed the fan directly: “That was very, very kind of you.”
Although Healy never mentioned Swift by name, he did address the recent backlash their fling inspired, fed by numerous channels—including his controversial comments about rapper Ice Spice; his (apparent) jokes on “The Adam Friedland Show” about the porn channel Ghetto Gaggers; his satirical Nazi salute during a concert; and more generally suspect treatment of women.
Referring again to the signs, Healy added, “I’m sure that’s alluding to…” but interrupted himself before adding additional context. “As you’re aware, I’m not very online at the moment, and I’m sure people have just been calling me a cunt relentlessly.”
He continued, “I’ve not been online, but what I have been with is my boys,” referring to his 1975 bandmates. “And honestly, as much as I appreciate that [sign], it’s so beautiful, and I thank you. But I don’t need it, because I’ve got them.” It’s a sentiment Healy has shared on numerous occasions, including in a recent profile with The New Yorker. He told writer Jia Tolentino that the band operates with “a ‘Wizard of Oz’ element to us. One of us needs a heart, one of us needs a brain, one of us needs this other thing, and we’re all on the road together.”
But as previously reported, the backlash itself apparently did not create a factor in the breakup between Healy and Swift. As one source told People, “[Healy] likes to provoke a response out of people. [Swift’s] a grown woman more than capable of forming her own opinions about people. No one forces her into anything, especially not these days. She’s on top of the world.”
The source also made it clear that the relationship was always a casual one. “They were never boyfriend-girlfriend or exclusive and were always just having fun,” they said. “There is no drama, and who knows what could happen again. It was a good time and ran its course.”
Culture Writer
Lauren Puckett-Pope is a staff culture writer at ELLE, where she primarily covers film, television and books. She was previously an associate editor at ELLE.