Taylor Swift is choosing to “take the high road” following remarks from Denise Welch—mother of her former boyfriend Matty Healy—after Welch made an “obnoxious” comment about the celebrated pop artist during a tense interview moment.
The 35-year-old performer found herself at the center of discourse during Welch’s appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live on Thursday night, where she was asked about Swift’s newest album, The Tortured Poets Department.
The 67-year-old British TV figure appeared to critique Swift’s habit of writing songs about past lovers and suggested that the singer’s extensive fan base is quick to retaliate against anyone who offers criticism.
‘Obviously, on pain of death can I talk about that episode, but being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad I lost,’ she said.
Her confession elicited shocked gasps from audience members, to which Welch quickly clarified her statement.
‘Not that I have anything against [Taylor] at all!’ she said emphatically, adding: ‘It was just – it was tricky.’
Denise Welch, the mother of Taylor Swift’s ex-boyfriend Matty Healy, took aim at the pop superstar when she appeared on Watch What Happens Live on Thursday
A source exclusively told the Daily Mail that Swift plans to ‘take the high road’ in response to Welch’s comments
‘Listen, you’re not allowed to say anything,’ she went on, ‘and then she [Taylor] writes a whole album about it.’
As Swift’s devoted fanbase will recall, the singer and Healy, 36, dated following her split from her longterm boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, in April 2023.
But the relationship was short-lived – and Swift has since moved on with NFL star Travis Kelce, while Healy himself is now engaged to model Gabbriette Bechtel.
Since then, the $1.6 billion songstress has been basking in the glory of her record-breaking Eras Tour, her historic buy-back her musical masters, and her loved-up relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Kelce.
That’s why, according to an inside source, Swift has no plans to issue a scathing response to Welch’s sly digs.
Instead, she plans to do exactly as she always does… and just shake it off.
‘It’s a bit obnoxious in Taylor’s eyes, but she has to take the high road,’ the insider exclusively told the Daily Mail.
‘If there was anything that would be in a future song of Taylor’s – if she were ever to respond – she would respond that way. But as of right now, she might just let it slide. She is not going to let Denise ruin her day.’
Pictured: Welch and her son, The 1975 frontman, in July 2023 in London
Swift and Healy briefly dated following her split from actor Joe Alwyn in April 2023. Their rollercoaster romance came to an end that June after Healy faced criticism for making a series of offensive comments
While Swift and Healy only dated for a few short months in 2023, their paths first crossed years earlier.
The two reportedly met when Swift attended a 1975 show in Los Angeles in 2014, with her friends Selena Gomez and Ellie Goulding in tow.
But they weren’t properly in each other’s orbits until 2022, when rumors began circulating that Healy would be featured on Swift’s album Midnights.
There turned out to be some truth in the gossip. Healy revealed in the November of that year that he had collaborated with Swift in the studio, though their work never saw the light of day.
They picked up the professional collaboration in January 2023, with Swift making a surprise appearance on stage at a 1975 concert.
And then, following news of her split from Alwyn in April that year, the new romance was confirmed – just one month later.
But as quickly as it had begun, Healy was swept up in controversy over offensive accents and crude jokes he had made about rapper Ice Spice.
Swift is pictured with Nick Grimshaw (left) and Healy (right) in 2015 in London. She reportedly met Healy when she attended a 1975 show in Los Angeles in November 2014
Across social media, Swift’s fans expressed their disappointment with the singer over her choice of partner, and urged her to dump Healy.
By early June, the two were reported to no longer be together.
While our source maintained that Swift has nothing but respect for her ex-boyfriend’s mother, if there’s one thing to know about the pop star, it’s that when someone swings low she comes back swinging harder.
‘Taylor respected Denise and will continue to do so, as this will go away very quickly,’ the insider said.
‘But if Denise continues to talk about it and bash Taylor, then Taylor would say something. The ball is still in Denise’s court to see if she wants to continue the narrative she brought upon herself.’
Despite Welch’s comments, Swift is nonetheless ‘very happy with life right now’, our source said.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Swift and Welch for comment.
