(L) Taylor Swift. Photo by Beth Garrabrant. (R) Matty Healy. Photo by Ben Morris for The FADER
Taylor Swift is facing blowback from some fans over her reported relationship with The 1975's Matty Healy, the English pop star who has faced controversies over bigoted remarks and jokes, most recently targeting Ice Spice during a podcast appearance. An open letter to Swift with the hashtag "#SpeakUpNow" is currently being shared on social media in an attempt to pressure Swift to atone for the rumored Healy association.
Accusing Healy of "actions [which] contribute to the perpetuation of hate, stereotypes, and objectification," the letter asks Swift to push back publicly on Healy's controversies. "While individuals have the right to make their own choices and form relationships," the letter reads, "we believe that is essential for those in the public eye to take a stand against discrimination and hold themselves and their associates accountable... Staying silent about actions that perpetuate hatred and contribute to systemic oppression undermines the progress that was made towards equality and understanding."
The letter demands "more than a simple apology" from Swift. "Use your platform responsibly and intentionally. Advocate for inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and promote empathy and understanding. Challenge harmful ideologies and inspire followers to join you in creating a more just and equitable world."
Of course, not every Taylor Swift fan feels that the #SpeakUpNow campaign is needed:
In April, Matty Healy apologized to Ice Spice during a concert and reflected on the controversy. "I don’t want anything like that misconstrued to be mean," he told an audience in New Zealand. "I don’t mind being a bit of a joker… It’s OK for me to be, like, a trickster or whatever, but I don’t want to be seen as, like, being barmy."
