Matty Healy responds to Taylor Swift ‘diss track’ on new Tortured Poets Department album

Ever since Taylor Swift dropped her surprise double album The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) on 19 April, fans have been rushing to social media to decode any hidden meanings behind the songs.

While internet sleuths think they worked out that ‘thanK you aIMee’ may well be a nod to her highly publicised feud with Kim Kardashian, most of the attention has been on who the man is that reportedly inspired Taylor’s latest batch of heartbroken lyrics.

And there’s a lot of material to work with - 31 songs to be exact.

TTPD was initially a 15-track record, and then Taylor delighted fans by dropping another 16 for good measure.

The 'Red' singer is no stranger to her love life being in the public eye, so Swifties everywhere immediately rolled up their sleeves in search of ‘evidence’.

It was first thought by fans that the album was inspired by her breakup with ex-flame Joe Alwyn, who she was in a relationship with for six years - but after much digging from Taylor’s fanbase, it was surmised by listeners that a big portion of TTPD was inspired by The 1975 frontman Matty Healy.

Taylor Swift dropped her new album recently. (Ashok Kumar/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

The duo were reported to have dated - albeit briefly - following from her reported split from Joe last year, before calling it quits the same year.

After parallels between Swift’s lyrics and their short romance were highlighted by fans, Matty has broken his silence.

Yesterday (24 April), a paparazzi approached the ‘Somebody Else’ singer, who is now reportedly in a relationship with model Gabbriette, and asked him what his thoughts are about the rumours.

Taylor and Matty were reported to have been dating in 2023. (Robert Kamau/GC Images)

“Hey Matt”, the paparazzi begins. “How would you rate your Taylor diss track?”

Matty responds, “My diss track?”

“Yeah”, the paparazzi continues. “Taylor’s new song.”

Matty then laughs to himself and says, “Oh. I haven't really listened to that much of it," he said, "but I'm sure it's good."

Prior to his response, his family also responded to the claims, with his aunt claiming that he 'wouldn't be surprised' by the song.

The Tortured Poets Department songs Swifties think reference Matty Healy

'The Tortured Poets Department'

Swift sings: “You left your typewriter at my apartment / Straight from the Tortured Poets Department / I think some things I never say / Like, ‘Who uses typewriters anyway?’”

Healy previously admitted he 'really likes' typewriters in a 2018 GQ interview.

'Guilty as Sin?'

Swift sings: "Drowning in the Blue Nile / He sent me 'Downtown Lights'."

Healy is known to be a fan of Scottish band The Blue Nile, and 'Downtown Lights' even inspired a The 1975 song.

'But Daddy I Love Him'

This one seems to take aim at Swift's fans, who continually pleaded with her to break up with Healy during the brief time she dated him.

At one point she sings: God save the most judgmental creeps / Who say they want what's best for me / Sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I’ll never see / Thinking it can change the beat of my heart when he touches me."

Tell us how you really feel.

'The Black Dog'

Swift sings: "I just don't understand how you don't miss me / In The Black Dog when someone plays The Starting Line / And you jump up, but she's too young / To know this song / That was intertwined in the magic fabric of our dreaming."

Healy is a fan of The Starting Line, and covered the band's song 'The Best of Me' during gigs in April and May 2023, just days before he and Swift were snapped holding hands.

'The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived'

One fan called this 'the most brutal song I've ever heard' - the title says it all, really.

The opening reference to a man in a 'Jehovah's Witness suit' seems to be a dig at how Healy dresses on stage.