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 song of «Midnights» 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 considered racist, including laughing and joining in on the jokes mocking Ice Spice while appearing as a guest on a podcast. And while Healy and Swift haven’t confirmed a romantic relationship, the two have made headlines after being spotted together. Healy has also been photographed in several of the concerts of the Eras Tour.
Given that connection, Swift’s collaboration with Ice Spice seemed like a calculated PR move, some said. Others said they believed the Ice Spice collaboration was likely long in the works, but were disappointed that Swift has yet to address Healy’s earlier comments.
“I don’t think Matty Healy is a conservative devil,” said Brooke Giles, 27, who considers herself a die-hard Swiftie. «And her [Swift] does not comment. Instead, he is finding more ways to cash in on the controversy.»
Representatives for the three artists did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Healy made the controversial comments. on a February episode of “The Adam Friedland Show” podcast. During the episode, Healy, who is white, can be heard laughing at jokes made by hosts Friedland and Nick Mullen about Ice Spice’s ethnicity (Ice Spice is Dominican and Nigerian).
He also seemed to encourage the co-hosts as 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 wanted to hurt anybody,» he said. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, and as Ice Spice, I’m sorry. It’s not because I’m upset that my joke was misconstrued, it’s because I don’t want Ice Spice to think I’m an advertisement. I love you ice spice. Very sorry. I don’t want anything to be misconstrued as bad. I don’t mind being a bit of a joke…but I don’t want to be perceived as mean.»
Healy, Swift and Ice Spice have not weighed in on the controversy.
In her announcement Wednesday, Swift said she’s a «big fan» of Ice Spice, adding that «after meeting her, I can confirm: she’s THE ONE to watch.»
“Sweetest person in the world thank you sm,” Ice Spice wrote in his reply. cheep.
Ice Spice had previously shared his love for The 1975 in a January 25 video interview with Elle.
Discussions surrounding Swift and Healy have plagued social media for days.
«I love Taylor Swift as much as the next Swiftie, but this is a very interesting PR move.» wrote another Twitter user.
Fans have used the hashtag #SpeakUpNow to share their frustrations over Swift’s association with Healy. The label was also used in a letter written by fans which was widely liked and shared on Twitter.
“Your voice has tremendous power and right now your silence is palpable,” the fan wrote. “We urge you to reflect on the impact of your own behavior and that of your associates and engage in genuine self-reflection.”
Swift fans like Mike Mason, 24, said they are still angry about Healy’s comments.
“When I saw the comments, I was honestly very upset and angry,” Mason said in an email to NBC News. «It was completely racist and unnecessary, and I don’t think his apology was genuine at all.»
It was completely racist and out of character.
-Taylor Swift fan Mike Mason on comments Matty Healy made during an appearance on the February podcast
Amid the speech, some Swifties have come to Healy’s defense, noting that she previously advocated for progressive causes and women’s issues.
Comedian and activist Franchesca Ramsey suggested that Healy’s defense could stem from the parasocial relationship, the attachment fans can feel towards a public figure, especially likable people who are very active online, that people have with Swift.
The artist is known for intentionally leaving clues of all kinds in her music videos, lyrics, and social media for her devoted fans to analyze and dissect.
«My opinion is that a large percentage of Taylor’s audience feels extreme loyalty to her because of the parasocial relationship she has cultivated with them throughout her career,» Ramsey tweeted. «Showing loyalty to her on social media is a way to feign closeness and a chance to be chosen/noticed by her.»
Some said they believe the controversy serves as an example of Swift’s privilege and involvement in white-centric feminism.
«I don’t think he’s a terrible, awful person,» Giles said. “I always like to think that that’s pretty well established. But I do think that she is very careless with her privilege.»
Others expressed disappointment that the controversy eclipsed Ice spice.
Ava Brown, 24, a longtime fan of Swift, said she finds Healy’s speech «frustrating.»
«…a lot of people defend the things that he says in a way that’s like, ‘Oh, I was just making a joke,’ or ‘Oh, it’s an act,'» he said.
But Brown, who recently attended a concert on the Eras Tour, said the speech about Healy is annoying to some degree because it detracts from the fun of Swift’s music.
“I’m just a Taylor Swift fan,” she said. “I don’t know what she said was right or wrong or anything like that. I think part of what gets frustrating is that I just want to hear her music and I just want to be a fan.»