Denise Welch Throws Shade at Taylor Swift During Andy Cohen Chat
Avery Sinclair here. Another celebrity spat masquerading as late-night banter.
On July 25, Denise Welch, mother of “1975” frontman Matty Healy, made a pointed quip about Taylor Swift during her stint on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, according to TMZ. Host Andy Cohen brought up Taylor’s 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department, which, he reminded viewers, features tracks inspired by her brief 2023 romance with Healy. With a sly grin, Welch warned that she could not discuss her son’s ex “on pain of death,” then delivered the zinger: “Not being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad that I lost.”
The room went silent – Cohen even looked a bit shell-shocked if you ask E! News – before Welch back-pedaled slightly, insisting she harbored “nothing against” Swift. Still, the moment underscored a lingering side-eye from the Brit actress, who clearly resents being sidelined in the songwriting saga. After all, if Swift can share an entire album’s worth of lyrics about Healy, why is the guy himself muzzled?
Welch, best known for her turn on Celebrity Big Brother UK and dramatic roles in British television, explained that her son was “not allowed to say anything” about the whirlwind match with Swift. She called it “tricky,” but went on to praise Healy’s current fiancée, model Gabbriette Bechtel, as “amazing” and “gorgeous.” Sources at People Magazine confirm that Healy and Bechtel’s engagement has been rock solid, with the pair posting PDA-filled pics across social media.
Meanwhile, Swift has moved on herself, reportedly enjoying life with NFL star Travis Kelce. E! News notes that footage of Swift and Kelce cozying up in the stands had fans swooning earlier this summer, cementing the idea that everyone in this triangle got what they wanted: a clean breakup, new partners, and plenty of recycled songwriting material.
So what can we take away from this live-TV moment? For one, celebrity interviews are never as candid as they seem. Cohen asked about Swift’s influence on Matty’s lyrics, but Welch turned it into a master class in how to throw shade while keeping your PR team busy. It also proves that no matter how many high-profile romances Swift pedals through her albums, the real fireworks happen on talk shows.
And let’s be honest, there’s something deliciously ironic about the muse turned one-episode punch line. Swift fans and haters alike will pore over Welch’s precise words for weeks, dissecting every syllable. Meanwhile, Matty Healy will keep touring with The 1975, Swift will likely head back into the studio, and Bravo will enjoy another ratings bump.
That’s today’s dose of celeb realness. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, E! News, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
