Matty Healy’s brief and highly publicized relationship with Taylor Swift may have ended over a year ago, but it remains a subject of intrigue, especially now that Healy’s mother, British actress and television personality Denise Welch, has weighed in publicly.

During an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Welch was asked directly about Swift and her son’s connection to the pop megastar, a topic that took center stage earlier this year when Swift released her album The Tortured Poets Department, which many fans speculated was partially inspired by her whirlwind romance with The 1975 frontman.

Cohen, known for his boundary-pushing interview style, broached the subject by referencing the album and its apparent ties to Healy. Welch’s initial response was measured, albeit tinged with mischief. “Obviously, on pain of death, can I talk about that episode?” she said with a laugh. But it didn’t take long for her to drop the kind of quote that immediately made headlines. “But not being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad that I lost.”

The comment drew audible reactions from both Cohen and the studio audience, suggesting that Welch’s words carried more sting than she perhaps intended. While her phrasing may have muddied the waters grammatically, the sentiment behind it came through loud and clear.

Still, Welch quickly sought to soften the blow, emphasizing that she holds no animosity toward Swift. “Not that I have anything against her at all! It was just… it was tricky,” she clarified, alluding to the whirlwind nature of the relationship and the intense media scrutiny that followed.

Representatives for Swift have not issued a statement in response to Welch’s remarks.

The romance between Healy and Swift was one of the most talked-about celebrity pairings of 2023. The two were linked shortly after Swift’s split from actor Joe Alwyn, and though their time together was short-lived, it made a lasting impression on fans and tabloids alike. The relationship reportedly lasted only a few weeks, but speculation about its impact has persisted, especially with several tracks on The Tortured Poets Department believed to reference Healy directly.

Healy himself has addressed the relationship only sparingly, preferring to sidestep public commentary. During an appearance on the Doomscroll podcast last year, he made it clear that he had no plans to chronicle the relationship in his own music. “I think that that’s an obvious thing to draw from. And I’m just not interested in it,” he said. “The idea of making a record about something that personally happened to me, that by the time I put it out is gonna be like two years old... I see people doing that as well, and it’s not interesting.”

Despite Welch’s light-hearted jab and Healy’s guarded approach, both appear to be moving on from the drama that surrounded the short-lived romance. Meanwhile, Swift continues her juggernaut Eras Tour and recently teased new material, signaling she’s far from done exploring personal themes in her music.