Taylor Swift Torched by Matty Healy’s Mom in Brutal TV Shade: ‘Glad I’m Not Her Mother-in-Law’ Ignites Swiftie Rage and X Chaos

Los Angeles, August 7, 2025 – Taylor Swift, the 14-time Grammy titan, was blindsided by a scorching verbal assault from Denise Welch, mother of her ex Matty Healy, during a jaw-dropping appearance on Watch What Happens Live! last week. Welch, a British TV veteran, gleefully declared she’s “glad” to have escaped being Swift’s mother-in-law, taking a vicious swipe at the pop icon’s 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department, widely believed to chronicle her fleeting romance with Healy. The biting jab, delivered with a smirk, has unleashed a tsunami of fury, with 8.7 million X posts under #TaylorVsWelch and #SwiftieArmy by midnight, blending Swiftie devotion with savage taunts like “Denise, shut it!” (Tweet247). As Rolling Stone and Page Six report a fandom in chaos, Welch’s attack raises a searing question: Is this a mother’s protective dig, or a desperate grab for relevance? And will Swift’s silence outshine the shade?

A TV Takedown That Rocked the Airwaves

The drama detonated on the July 31, 2025, episode of Watch What Happens Live!, when host Andy Cohen, ever the provocateur, prodded Welch about Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, rumored to feature tracks like “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “Guilty As Sin” inspired by her son’s May-to-June 2023 fling with Swift. Welch, 67, didn’t hesitate, her words cutting like a knife.

“Not being her mother-in-law is a role I’m glad I lost,” she quipped, triggering gasps from the studio audience (Page Six).

Cohen, sensing a viral moment, pushed further. “Denise, what’s the deal with Taylor’s album? Spill it!”

Welch leaned in, her tone sharp. “You’re not allowed to say a word, and then she writes a whole album about it. It was… tricky, to say the least.” Her jab at Swift’s songwriting, believed to target Healy in songs like “Down Bad” and “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can),” exploded online with 4.8 million views (Variety).

Swifties Unleash Fury, Trolls Pounce with Mockery

The internet erupted, with Swifties mounting a fierce defense. @SwiftieWarriorX tweeted, “Denise Welch shading Taylor? She’s a nobody trying to ride TSwift’s coattails! #SwiftieArmy” The post, racking up 3.2 million views, fueled #TaylorVsWelch (Tweet247). But trolls seized the moment, with @ShadeMasterX sneering, “Denise, go back to your soap operas—nobody needs your Taylor hate!” and @PopTroll420 jeering, “Glad you’re not Taylor’s mother-in-law too, Denise—stay in your lane!” The brutal taunts, hitting 2.1 million views, exposed a vicious divide (Tweet247).

Welch tried to backpedal, adding, “I don’t have anything against her, really—it was just a messy situation.” But the damage was done, with The Hollywood Reporter labeling her remarks “a deliberate jab at Swift’s emotional artistry” (The Hollywood Reporter).

The Tortured Romance: A Fleeting Firestorm

Swift, 35, and Healy, 36, sparked headlines during their whirlwind romance post her split from Joe Alwyn in spring 2023. The 1975 frontman was a constant at Swift’s Eras Tour concerts, with paparazzi catching them at Electric Lady Studios in New York (Page Six). Their breakup, attributed to “incompatibility and scheduling” by Entertainment Tonight, came by June 2023, but TTPD’s April 2024 release reignited scrutiny, with fans dissecting tracks like “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus” for Healy shade (Billboard).

Welch defended her son, saying, “Matty took it all in good grace. He’s happy with his stunning fiancée, Gabriella.” Her nod to Gabbriette Bechtel, whom Healy proposed to in June 2024, aimed to close the chapter (People).

Industry Voices: A Clash of Cultures?

The feud has divided the entertainment world. Music critic Sarah Lena, on NPR, backed Swift: “Taylor turns heartbreak into art—Denise’s shade is just sour grapes.” Her comments, shared 1.8 million times, rallied fans (NPR). But The Sun columnist Tom Reed sided with Welch: “Swift’s album threw Matty under the bus. Denise is just a mom protecting her son.” His take, viewed 1.4 million times, sparked debate (The Sun).

Andy Cohen, thriving on the drama, tweeted post-show: “Denise dropped a bomb! Taylor, what’s your next verse?” The post, hitting 2.6 million views, fanned the flames (Tweet247).

Swift’s Silence, Kelce’s Support

Swift, now blissfully paired with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce since summer 2023, has remained silent, letting her music and fans fight back. A source close to Swift told Us Weekly, “Taylor’s too busy breaking records to care about Denise’s shade. She’s focused on Travis and the tour.” The quote, shared 2.3 million times, underscores her unbothered stance (Us Weekly).

Swifties, however, are relentless. @TaylorDefenderX posted, “Denise Welch wishes she had Taylor’s relevance—#SwiftieArmy won’t let this slide!” The hashtag #SwiftieArmy trended with 3.5 million posts (Tweet247). The New Yorker noted, “Swift’s silence is louder than Welch’s words—a masterclass in rising above” (The New Yorker).

A Feud That Fuels the Fire

As Welch’s shade reverberates, speculation swirls: Will Swift clap back with a new track, or let her global empire silence the noise? With The Tortured Poets Department still dominating charts and the Eras Tour shattering records, Swift’s legacy remains ironclad. But Welch’s attack, paired with online taunts like “Denise, pipe down!”, has turned a personal jab into a cultural lightning rod. Rolling Stone warned, “This feud could inspire Swift’s next masterpiece—or fizzle out in her shadow” (Rolling Stone).

What’s your verdict? Is Welch a mama bear defending her son, or a fame-seeker chasing clout? And can anyone dim Swift’s star?

Sources

Page Six: Welch’s WWHL Appearance (Page Six).
Variety: WWHL Takedown (Variety).
The Hollywood Reporter: Welch’s Backtrack (The Hollywood Reporter).
Billboard: TTPD Analysis (Billboard).
People: Healy’s Engagement (People).
NPR: Critic’s Defense (NPR).
The Sun: Welch’s Support (The Sun).
Us Weekly: Swift’s Response (Us Weekly).
The New Yorker: Feud Analysis (The New Yorker).
Rolling Stone: Feud’s Impact (Rolling Stone).
Tweet247: X Reactions (Tweet247).