After the release of Swift’s most recent album, there was wide speculation about what — and who — might have inspired some of its most brokenhearted lyrics — and her former mother-in-law has now weighed in.
On July 24, 2025, English actress and TV personality Denise Welch appeared on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live!”
On the show, the mother of singer-songwriter Matty Healy — who previously dated Taylor Swift — spoke for the first time about the aftermath of her son’s relationship with the pop star.
Taylor Swift and Matty Healy leaving “The Electric Lady” studio in New York City on May 16, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
The conversation began when host Andy Cohen remarked that Swift “wrote a whole album about their relationship,” referring to “The Tortured Poets Department,” and asked Welch upfront how she felt about it.
“Obviously, on pain of death can I talk about that episode, but being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad that I lost,” Welch told Cohen.
Denise Welch on “Watch What Happens Live!” from a post dated July 24, 2025. | Source: Instagram/bravowwhl
Although she stressed she holds no animosity toward Swift, Welch admitted the situation was complicated due to the intense public scrutiny — both during the relationship and afterward.
“It was just — it was tricky,” she said. “Listen, you’re not allowed to say anything, and then she writes a whole album about it,” explained Welch.
Matty Healy and his mother, Denise Welch, outside a restaurant in London on July 5, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Welch added that Healy has handled the attention with grace and that she’s grateful he is now happy and engaged to model Gabbriette Bechtel.
Healy and Swift began dating in 2023, shortly after her breakup with actor Joe Alwyn, her partner of six years.
Their whirlwind romance, marked by Healy’s provocative public persona clashing with Swift’s wholesome image, fueled widespread online debate. The relationship fizzled after only a few months.
When The Tortured Poets Department dropped in 2024, fans and critics speculated that its lyrics referenced Healy. Writing for The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich pointed to lines from the title track as potential nods to their fling, including:
“You’re not Dylan Thomas / I’m not Patti Smith / This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel / We’re modern idiots,”
and,
“You smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist / I scratch your head, you fall asleep / Like a tattooed golden retriever.”
Matty Healy onstage during the Phoebe Bridgers opening set for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” on May 12, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | Source: Getty Images
While Swift never explicitly names Healy on the album, Welch’s comments seem to reinforce the belief that the songs drew inspiration from their relationship.
A few months after her split from Healy, Swift began dating NFL star Travis Kelce.
Taylor Swift looking at boyfriend Travis Kelce during the final day of the US Open tennis tournament in New York City on September 8, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
Their romance sparked another media frenzy — though in stark contrast to the speculation around Healy, coverage of Kelce has been largely positive, portraying him as a wholesome athlete.
The media has swooned over short clips of Swift watching Kelce’s games from private booths, often with famous friends at her side. Lip readers and Swift experts have been rolled out to interpret minute signs and gestures.
Taylor Swift cheering on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, as the Kansas City Chiefs play against the San Francisco 49ers on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, alongside Ice Spice, Donna Kelce, Blake Lively, and Jason Kelce. | Source: Getty Images
That said, Kelce has been notably cautious about sharing details of their romance. In fact, he waited until July 24, 2025 — nearly two years after they began dating — to post their first photo together on Instagram.
Perhaps maintaining that low profile is part of what has helped his relationship with the “1989” singer thrive and endure.
