So, remember that whirlwind of a moment back in 2023 when Taylor Swift and Matty Healy were the talk of the town? Yeah, it was brief—but apparently, unforgettable enough to get etched into Taylor’s latest album The Tortured Poets Department. And now, Matty’s mom, British TV personality Denise Welch, is offering her candid take on the whole affair. Spoiler alert: she didn’t exactly see wedding bells—and she’s not mad about that.
Let’s rewind a bit. Taylor had just ended her long-term relationship with Joe Alwyn, and within what felt like minutes, rumors started flying about her and The 1975 frontman Matty Healy. The two were spotted all over each other in May—hand-in-hand at NYC’s Casa Cipriani, Matty showing up at her Eras Tour performance in Nashville—it was giving serious rebound energy. But by June? Donezo. Just like that.
Fast forward to July 24, 2025. Denise Welch is on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, and Andy wastes no time steering the conversation toward the hot topic: Taylor Swift’s not-so-subtle lyrical nods to her fling with Matty.
Denise, who’s never been one to sugarcoat things (Loose Women fans know!), responded with her signature wit. "Obviously, on pain of death can I talk about that episode," she joked, drawing some major gasps from the audience. Then she dropped the line that’s since gone viral: “But being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad that I lost.”
🔥 Wait, what?! Glad she lost the chance to be Taylor Swift’s mother-in-law? That’s one way to shut down a fan fantasy!
But before Swifties start crafting clapbacks, Welch made sure to add, “Not that I have anything against her at all! It was just — it was tricky.”
Let’s pause here for a second. “Tricky”? That word’s doing a lot of heavy lifting. Whether it was the media attention, the whirlwind timeline, or the overwhelming Swiftie spotlight on her son, Denise clearly wasn’t loving the whole situation. She added a zinger that might sting a little if you're on Team Taylor: “You’re not allowed to say anything, and then she writes a whole album about it.”
Oof. Shots fired—or, maybe, just some tough British honesty.
If you’ve listened to The Tortured Poets Department (and let's be real, who hasn't?), you’ve probably noticed more than a few lines that fans think are about Matty. Tracks like “Guilty as Sin?”, “Fresh Out the Slammer,” “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can),” and “loml” all raised eyebrows and sent TikTok into full-on detective mode. Suddenly, Matty became one of the internet's favorite conspiracy theories.
Despite the attention, Denise insists her son has handled the whole circus with grace. “Matty has taken it all in completely good grace,” she said, noting that he’s now in a much happier place—with someone else.
Let’s talk about that for a second. Matty has officially moved on and is engaged to Gabbriette Bechtel, the edgy and stunning model-singer who’s practically a Tumblr fever dream come to life. Welch didn’t hold back her praise: “He’s very happy with his amazing fiancée Gabriella, who is gorgeous.” In other words, mom approves—and isn’t afraid to say it.
“So, we’ve moved on,” Denise added, tying a neat bow on the saga. Short and sweet, just like her son’s relationship with Taylor.
Now, you may be asking: how did this all even begin? Fun fact—Taylor and Matty actually first crossed paths in 2014, almost a decade before they officially dated. But for whatever reason (timing? vibes? who knows?), nothing serious happened until the spring of 2023. Even then, insiders called it a “casual” thing.
Apparently, it was never meant to go the distance. According to a source quoted by People after their June breakup, “Their relationship was always casual.” Which makes sense considering how quickly Swift jumped into the public eye with someone else...
Cue Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and now a household name thanks to his high-profile romance with Taylor. Their love story kicked off around September 2023 when Swift began showing up to his games, creating a media storm every time she cheered him on from the VIP suites.
But here’s where it gets cute: Kelce admitted he made the first move—sort of. During an episode of The Pat McAfee Show podcast, he shared how he invited Taylor to a game after attending her Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium (yes, the Chiefs’ home turf). “I threw the ball in her court,” he joked. Clearly, she caught it.
While Taylor’s Eras Tour kept dominating the globe, her love life continued to steal headlines. From cryptic song lyrics to PDA-packed NFL appearances, she’s been serving drama, romance, and chart-toppers all in one.
Back to Denise Welch—can we just appreciate how refreshingly honest she is? A lot of celeb parents would’ve dodged the question or given a canned “no comment.” But not Denise. She brought humor, honesty, and just enough shade to keep the internet buzzing.
Whether you were rooting for Matty and Taylor or side-eyeing the whole thing, there’s no denying this little detour in Taylor Swift’s romantic journey gave us a lot to talk about—and a few unforgettable songs.
🔥 Quick Recap of the Relationship Rollercoaster:
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Fall 2014 – Taylor & Matty first meet.
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May 2023 – Romance rumors heat up after Matty shows up at Eras Tour and the duo are seen holding hands in NYC.
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June 2023 – They call it quits.
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July 2023 – Kelce throws his shot after Eras Tour.
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September 2023 – Taylor & Travis spark official dating rumors.
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2025 – Denise Welch drops the tea on Watch What Happens Live.
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