Matty Healy’s mother, Denise Welch, has recently shared her candid thoughts on her son’s breakup with Taylor Swift, revealing that it was a challenging time for both her and Matty. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, a source close to Welch disclosed that the 67-year-old actress had a tough time remaining silent about the situation, stating, “Denise is still Matty’s mum at the end of the day, and it was bloody hard for her to stay quiet during the whole ordeal.” As time has passed since the split, Welch has begun to express her feelings, especially knowing that her son was hurt by the breakup.
Welch didn’t hold back during her appearance on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” where she discussed Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” This album is widely believed to reflect the emotional aftermath of her relationship with Healy. Welch remarked, “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,” which drew gasps from the audience.
In a previous appearance on ITV’s “Loose Women,” Welch was asked about Swift’s album, which many speculate contains tracks inspired by her son. She cleverly dodged the question but added, “Not that I have anything against her at all. It was just — it was tricky.” Welch expressed her frustration that Swift could openly share her side of the story through music while others, like herself, felt constrained from doing so. “Listen, you’re not allowed to say anything, and then she writes a whole album about it,” she noted.
Despite the turmoil, Welch emphasized that Matty has handled everything with grace. “He’s very happy with his amazing fiancée, Gabriella ‘Gabbriette’ Bechtel, who is gorgeous,” she said, indicating that her son has moved on positively since the breakup.
A source shared that Welch’s comments during the WWHL interview stemmed from a place of maternal concern. “You can’t blame a mum for standing up for her child,” the insider explained. They added that the aftermath of Healy and Swift’s split was particularly tough for Welch, noting, “It’s a horrible thing to have the most famous person in the world saying that your son broke her heart when it was the other way around, and then you can’t even defend yourself.”
Welch’s comments reflect a mother’s instinct to protect her child, especially in the face of public scrutiny. The source concluded, “She’s saying the mother-in-law stuff because that’s where Matty thought it was headed. She’s entitled to her opinion.”
Matty Healy and Taylor Swift first sparked dating rumors in 2014 when Swift was spotted at several of Healy’s concerts with his band, The 1975. Although Healy initially denied any romantic involvement in a January 2015 radio interview, he later acknowledged that they had exchanged numbers and occasionally communicated.
The two were romantically linked again in May 2023 but confirmed their split just a month later. Healy has since moved on with Bechtel, whom he got engaged to in June 2024. Meanwhile, Swift began dating NFL star Travis Kelce in the summer of 2023, with their relationship becoming public in September.
As fans continue to follow the lives of these high-profile celebrities, Welch’s insights provide a glimpse into the emotional complexities that come with fame and relationships. The public may see the glamorous side of celebrity life, but behind the scenes, it often involves personal struggles and heartache.