Healy, the frontman for The 1975, has been linked to Swift. Earlier this year, he was called out for mocking Ice Spice, and subsequently apologized.
Some of Taylor Swift’s Black fans have renewed their frustration over the singer’s connection to The 1975 frontman Matty Healy after Swift announced a collaboration with rapper Ice Spice.
While fans were excited about the remixed “Midnights” track featuring Ice Spice, who will be the first Black woman on one of Swift’s songs, some questioned Swift’s motives.
Earlier this year, Healy engaged in behavior some deemed racist, including laughing at and joining in on jokes mocking Ice Spice while appearing as a guest on a podcast. And while Healy and Swift have not confirmed a romantic relationship, the two have made headlines after being spotted out together. Healy has also been photographed at several of the Eras Tour concerts.
Given that connection, Swift’s collaboration with Ice Spice seemed like a calculated PR move, some said. Others said they believe the Ice Spice collaboration was likely long in the works, but they remained disappointed by the fact that Swift has yet to address Healy’s previous comments.
“I don’t believe that Matty Healy is a demon conservative,” said Brooke Giles, 27, who considers herself a die-hard Swiftie. “And she [Swift] is not commenting on it. Instead, she’s finding more ways again to profit off of controversy.”
Representatives for the three artists did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
Healy made the controversial comments on a February episode of the podcast “The Adam Friedland Show.” During the episode, Healy, who is white, can be heard laughing at jokes that hosts Friedland and Nick Mullen make about Ice Spice’s ethnicity (Ice Spice is Dominican and Nigerian).
He also appeared to encourage the co-hosts when they imitated Chinese and Hawaiian accents, and, later, laughed when the two imitated Japanese accents.
The podcast episode was pulled from Apple and Spotify.
In April, Healy apologized for his comments, addressing Ice Spice directly while performing in Auckland, New Zealand.
“I never meant to hurt anybody,” he said. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you and, like, Ice Spice, I’m sorry. It’s not because I’m annoyed that me joking got misconstrued, it’s cause I don’t want Ice Spice to think I’m a d—. I love you, Ice Spice. I’m so sorry. I don’t want anything to be misconstrued as mean. I don’t mind being a bit of a joker … but I don’t want to be perceived as, like, kind of mean-hearted.”
Healy, Swift and Ice Spice have not weighed in on the controversy.
In her announcement on Wednesday, Swift said she is a “massive fan” of Ice Spice, adding “after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch.”