Matty Healy, frontman of The 1975, has stepped up and issued an apology for the recent controversies that have been swirling around him. The 34-year-old singer addressed the crowd during the band’s show at the Hollywood Bowl on Monday night, and boy, did he have some things to say.
First, he acknowledged the criticism and backlash he’s faced due to his past actions. This includes making racist jokes about Ice Spice back in January and admitting to watching a form of porn that depicts the brutalization of Black Women. It’s safe to say that his actions have stirred up quite the storm.
Matty didn’t mince words as he spoke to the audience, stating:
“Because some of my actions have hurt some people, I apologize to those people, and I pledge to do better moving forward.”
It’s a clear and direct apology, and it’s good to see him taking responsibility for his actions.
But then he went on to explain something interesting about his stage persona versus his real life. Matty pointed out that what you see on stage isn’t necessarily the same as what he’s like in his everyday life:
“I think it’s also important that I express my intentions so everybody knows that there is no ill will coming from me. You see, as an artist, I want to create an environment for myself to perform where not everything that I do is taken literally.”
He delved into the idea that his stage presence involves playing an exaggerated version of himself, especially when he’s in the public eye:
“I’ve kind of performed exaggerated versions of myself on other stages, be it print or on podcasts, and in an often misguided attempt at fulfilling the kind of character role of the 21st-century rock star. So, it’s complicated.”
And here’s the kicker – he ended his statement with a touch of humor, suggesting that these controversies might be his way of coping:
“Sometimes playing pretend is the only way you can truly find out who you are, and you could probably also say that men would rather do offensive impressions for attention than go to therapy.”
It’s a candid and self-reflective moment from Matty Healy, and it seems like he’s trying to get a grip on the whirlwind of controversies that have surrounded him. Only time will tell if he can indeed do better moving forward, but it’s a step in the right direction.
