Major Controversies Surrounding Matty Healy: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Matty Healy.

Matty Healy is the frontman and primary songwriter for the English pop rock band, The 1975. He's known for his eclectic musical style, insightful lyrics, and a provocative performance style often described as performance art. Healy has become an influential figure in indie pop music, leaving a noticeable mark on the genre through his unique artistic expression and stage presence.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2014: Healy comments on religion and ISIS on Twitter

In 2014, Healy, who described himself as "profoundly anti-religion", tweeted about ISIS and religion in response to a Harry Styles-themed Twitter account, which led to controversy. Healy said he "resent[ed] being 'educated' on religion by a Harry Styles fan account."

2015: Healy reflects on his progressive views after Twitter controversy

In 2015, Healy reflected on his progressive views after the Twitter controversy, saying: "I may not be as progressive as I'd like to be. There are some innate structures of thought within me that I'm really embarrassed about. I'm not as bright as I'd like to be."

2018: Healy apologizes for comments on misogyny

In 2018, Healy apologized after stating that misogyny doesn't exist in rock and roll anymore. He later described his comments as "ignorant" and "wrong, just outright misinformed."

August 2019: Healy banned from Dubai after LGBTQ protest

In August 2019, Healy was banned from Dubai after displaying a pride flag and kissing a male fan onstage to protest Dubai's anti-LGBT laws. This act, which was punishable by ten years in prison, led to his ban.

2019: Healy expresses disillusionment with UK political leaders

In 2019, Healy did not publicly support Labour ahead of the United Kingdom general election. He later stated he was disillusioned with political leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson, saying he didn't trust either of them.

2019: Queerty reports Healy had come out as an "aesthete"

In 2019, Queerty reported that Matty Healy had come out as an "aesthete". Healy criticized the publication for misinterpreting his words and clarified that he was not trying to take up queer spaces, but simply trying to be an ally.

2019: Healy criticizes misogyny in the music industry at the Brit Awards

When The 1975 won Best British Group at the 2019 Brit Awards, Healy used his acceptance speech to criticize misogyny in the music industry, quoting a piece by The Guardian's journalist Laura Snapes. Also that year, Healy denounced Alabama's anti-abortion laws during a concert in the state.

2020: Healy invites Greta Thunberg to record a speech for The 1975 track

In 2020, Healy invited Greta Thunberg to record a speech about climate change for a 1975 track, demonstrating his engagement with climate change issues. Conservative MP David Davies accused Healy of "hypocrisy" because of his touring, but Healy defended his actions by stating that everyone should try to help even if they haven't figured out how to be carbon neutral.

2020: Healy deactivates Twitter account and apologizes for tweet

In 2020, Matty Healy deactivated his Twitter account because he no longer wanted to participate in the "culture war" and wanted to take a more considered approach to his public statements. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Healy had tweeted a link to The 1975's protest song "Love It If We Made It". Amid online criticism that his tweet was self-promotional, Healy apologised and deactivated his account.

Loading Video...

November 2022: Healy denounces West's antisemitic remarks

In November 2022, Matty Healy denounced Kanye West's recent antisemitic remarks, stating that "grief" and "mental health issues" did not excuse them.

2022: Healy expresses concerns about woke-ism

By 2022, while reaffirming his left-leaning political stance, Healy expressed his suspicion of woke-ism as a viable worldview. He aimed to communicate the perils of overly rigid moral standards to younger fans, suggesting that mistakes and causing hurt are inevitable, and advocating for a breakdown of overly strict standards.

2022: The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour

In 2022, The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour, written and directed by Healy, featured commentary on contemporary masculinity. The show explored themes of being a single guy on the internet, masculinity, and the contrast between real and insincere. Clips went viral, leading to media coverage that described Healy as both "a sleazeball" and a "sensitive dirtbag".

January 2023: Healy's performance sparks online debate

In January 2023, a video of Matty Healy performing "Love It If We Made It" went viral. Healy's actions during the lyric "Thank you, Kanye, very cool" led to online debate about whether a gesture was intended as a Nazi salute.

Loading Video...

February 2023: Healy appears on The Adam Friedland Show

In February 2023, Matty Healy appeared on The Adam Friedland Show, where jokes about Ice Spice's stage name and ancestry were made by the hosts. Healy also joked about watching internet pornography from the website Ghetto Gaggers. The incident resulted in widespread controversy.

March 2023: Healy addresses The Adam Friedland Show controversy

In March 2023, Matty Healy told Jia Tolentino in a profile for The New Yorker that the controversy surrounding his appearance on The Adam Friedland Show was "people going, 'Oh, there's a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am.'" He admitted to "oppositional" behavior and "exaggeration of my shit" over the previous 18 months.

2023: Healy criticizes anti-transgender laws of Mississippi

During their Still... At Their Very Best tour in 2023, Healy criticized the anti-transgender laws of Mississippi, calling them "bullshit" in an onstage speech, demonstrating his advocacy for transgender rights.

2023: Healy and The 1975 banned from Malaysia after protesting anti-LGBT laws

In 2023, Healy and the rest of The 1975 were briefly imprisoned and banned from Malaysia after he criticised the country's anti-LGBT laws and kissed bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage. The Good Vibes Festival was subsequently cancelled by authorities, and the band faced a lawsuit for breach of contract.

2023: The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour continues

In 2023, Healy continued The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour, which he wrote and directed. The tour explored themes of masculinity and fame. His onstage actions, including eating raw steak and performing press-ups, continued to generate media attention and discussion. He also invited audience members to kiss him during "Robbers", sometimes sucking a fan's thumb, sparking conversations about consent, fantasy, and art.

Loading Video...

2023: Healy criticizes the apathy of the left in British politics

In 2023, Healy criticized the apathy of the left in contemporary British politics. He also expressed support for Scottish independence during performances in Scotland.