Matty Healy found himself at the center of a major controversy during the weekend as fellow labelmate, Rina Sawayama, called him out at Glastonbury. Although she didn’t mention him by name during her set, it was clear who she was referring to as she led up to performing her song, ‘STFU.’
Before diving into the first verse, Sawayama stated, “I wrote this because I was sick and tired of these micro-aggressions. This goes out to a white man that watches Ghetto Gaggers and mocks Asian people on a podcast. He also owns my masters! I’ve had enough!” The crowd erupted in reaction, and she passionately performed her song.
The incident quickly gained traction on Twitter, with Sawayama trending and Matty Healy facing criticism for his alleged problematic behavior, particularly regarding race. The reference to “ghetto gaggers” comes from an appearance Matty made on a podcast earlier in the year, where he made jokes about watching the controversial porn site. Many deemed this behavior insensitive. Additionally, he joined in on mocking Asian accents and disparaging Ice Spice during the podcast, further fueling the backlash.
This incident adds to the previous scrutiny Matty faced due to his relationship with Taylor Swift. Many of Swift’s fans disapproved of the pairing, urging her to end the relationship as they believed it didn’t align with her clean-cut image. Despite the controversy, the two eventually ended their relationship last month after dating for a little over a month. Reports suggest that the podcast controversy did not contribute to their split.
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Both Swift and Matty have continued pursuing their respective careers since the breakup. Swift is still on tour and focused on her music, while Matty has been performing with his band, The 1975. The backlash he faced had mostly subsided until Sawayama reignited it with her passionate call-out at Glastonbury.
Sawayama’s claim that Matty owns her masters raises questions. Although The 1975 is signed to her label, Dirty Hit, there is no public indication that Matty holds a leadership position at the label. It is unclear if Sawayama knows something that others are unaware of. Interestingly, Sawayama’s situation with her masters mirrors the infamous dispute Taylor Swift had with her masters in the past.
The incident at Glastonbury has sparked a renewed discussion about Matty Healy’s actions and their implications. People are applauding Sawayama for speaking out against behaviors they view as problematic. It remains to be seen how Matty will respond or address the controversy moving forward, but it is clear that the incident has ignited a dialogue about race and accountability in the music industry.
