There’s a strange poetry in a man who once feared becoming a beacon of sobriety, and now he’s engaged, clean for years, but still sparking headlines for everything from his love life to his wardrobe. Matty Healy, the 35-year-old frontman of The 1975, has spent 2024 proving that he contains multitudes — recluse and tabloid fixture, fashion provocateur and recovery advocate.
Age: 35 (born 8 April 1989) ·
Band: The 1975 ·
Engaged to: Gabbriette Bechtel (announced 2024) ·
Sobriety: Sober since 2017 (self-reported) ·
Notable Past Relationship: Taylor Swift (2023) ·
Diagnosis: Heroin addiction (disclosed in 2023)
Quick snapshot
- Exact timeline and length of the Swift–Healy relationship remain disputed (ELLE)
- Whether he and Taylor Swift are still in contact is unknown (ELLE)
- Reasons for his absence from bandmate George Daniel’s wedding are unconfirmed (ELLE)
- Long-term sobriety is only self-reported rather than externally verified (ELLE)
- Born 8 April 1989 in London
- The 1975 debut album released in 2013
- Entered rehab for heroin addiction in 2017
- Brief relationship with Taylor Swift: May–July 2023
- Engaged to Gabbriette Bechtel in June 2024 (Forbes)
- Liam Gallagher asked Healy to deliver a reunion message to Oasis in June 2024
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew Timothy Healy |
| Date of Birth | 8 April 1989 |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Band | The 1975 |
| Engagement | Gabbriette Bechtel (2024) |
| Sobriety | Sober since 2017 |
| Diagnosed Condition | Heroin addiction (disclosed 2023) |
Six milestones in this story, and one through-line: Healy has spent every publicly visible year since rehab trying to outrun or rewrite his own narrative.
Who is Matty Healy engaged to now?
Gabbriette Bechtel: model and fiancée
- Matty Healy is engaged to model, singer, and internet personality Gabbriette Bechtel, as confirmed in June 2024 (Forbes).
- Bechtel, 27 at the time, is known for her modelling work with high-fashion brands and her band, Nasty Cherry.
- She and Healy were first linked publicly in late 2023, about nine months before the engagement announcement (Forbes).
Timeline of their relationship
- September 2023: Healy and Bechtel are photographed together at a party in Los Angeles.
- Early 2024: The couple appears at multiple fashion weeks, becoming a fixture in the style press.
- June 2024: Healy proposes; Bechtel shows off a diamond ring on Instagram. The news is quickly picked up by outlets including Forbes.
The implication: Healy’s engagement signals a new chapter of stability after the chaos of 2023.
Did Taylor Swift and Matty Healy really date?
Brief timeline of the Swift–Healy relationship
- Taylor Swift and Matty Healy dated briefly in the spring and early summer of 2023 (ELLE).
- Healy was introduced on stage during Swift’s Eras Tour in Nashville in May 2023, where Swift dedicated the song “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” to him.
- The pair had been friends for years before dating; Healy later called the idea that they dated for two months “ridiculous” (ELLE).
- By July 2023, the relationship had ended, with sources suggesting it was mutual and amicable.
Public reactions and media coverage
- The swift-and-furious romance dominated entertainment headlines for weeks, splitting Swift fandom into camps of defense and criticism.
- Many fans noted that Swift’s album The Tortured Poets Department, released in 2024, includes songs that fans and media speculated were about Healy (Forbes).
- Healy responded to rumours a 2025 album would address the relationship, telling E! News the speculation was “total fiction.”
Healy denies the brevity and significance of the romance, yet the tabloid machine around it — fuelled by Swift’s album cycle and Healy’s own provocative comments — keeps the story alive two years later. The consequence: every public move Healy makes is still read through a Swift-shaped lens.
The pattern: Healy’s denials only fuel the ongoing speculation.
Is Matty Healy still sober?
His history of addiction
- Healy has been open about his struggle with heroin, which he said began in his early twenties (GQ).
- In 2017, he entered rehab — a decision he described as life-saving. A Billboard cover story from that era noted he had “kicked heroin” and was navigating fame with a clean slate.
- He disclosed the heroin addiction publicly in a 2023 interview, using the platform to destigmatize addiction among musicians.
Ongoing sobriety and public statements
- Healy told GQ in 2019: “My whole fear was becoming a beacon of sobriety.”
- He has not reported any relapse, and multiple interviews since 2017 describe him as still clean.
- His fiancée Gabbriette Bechtel has posted supportive messages on social media regarding his recovery, though she rarely discusses it directly.
Healy is publicly sober as of 2024, per all available evidence. The caveat: sobriety is self-reported, and the only people who would know otherwise are in his inner circle. For the public, the signal is consistent — he performs, tours, and engages in high-stakes media interviews without any visible shadow of relapse.
The takeaway: Healy’s sobriety remains consistent though unverified by external sources.
What is Matty Healy diagnosed with?
Heroin addiction diagnosis
- Healy stated in a 2023 interview that he received a formal diagnosis of heroin addiction (GQ).
- The diagnosis came prior to his 2017 rehab stint, which he entered after friends and bandmates staged an intervention.
Impact on his life and career
- He has said the addiction nearly destroyed his ability to function as a frontman, and that The 1975’s 2018 album A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships includes songs written during and after rehab.
- Healy has used his platform to advocate for mental health awareness and addiction recovery, appearing in campaigns and speaking at events.
- Despite the openness, he has also expressed wariness of being defined by his addiction, telling GQ he never wanted to become a “poster boy” for sobriety.
Healy’s openness about addiction has made him a complex figure in recovery advocacy.
Why did Matty Healy wear skirts?
Gender-fluid fashion in rock culture
- Healy has been photographed wearing skirts, kilts, and dresses on stage and at red-carpet events since roughly 2019.
- He told interviewers the clothing choice is a conscious challenge to traditional masculinity in rock music, a genre that often enforces rigid gender codes.
- He cites David Bowie, Prince, and Kurt Cobain as influences — artists who used fashion to blur gender lines (Billboard).
Healy’s personal style statements
- His wardrobe has become a signature: a mix of designer pieces (Rick Owens, Margiela) and thrifted vintage, often styled with heavy jewelry.
- Social media debates flare up regularly, with some fans celebrating the gender-fluid aesthetic and others calling it performative.
- Healy has not directly addressed the criticism, but his consistent use of skirts across multiple tours suggests the statement is intentional and durable.
The skirt is not a phase; it’s a brand. As Healy ages and his look evolves, the question is whether the gender-fluid style becomes a permanent part of his visual identity or a chapter he closes once engagement and maturity shift his image.
The question is whether this fashion statement will evolve as Healy’s public image matures.
What did Liam Gallagher say about Matty Healy?
Gallagher’s blunt advice to Oasis
- Liam Gallagher told Matty Healy to deliver a message to his brother Noel and the rest of Oasis: “Get back together. Stop f**king around” (Forbes).
- The incident occurred in June 2024, when Healy acted as an intermediary between the famously feuding Gallagher brothers.
Healy’s role as an intermediary
- Healy was in the unique position of being friends with both Liam and Noel Gallagher.
- After delivering the message, Healy told reporters that Noel laughed it off but did not make any promises regarding a reunion.
- The exchange was widely reported in music media, with Forbes covering the story as an example of Healy’s unusual cultural influence.
“Get back together. Stop f**king around.”
Liam Gallagher, speaking to Matty Healy about Oasis, as reported by Forbes
“My whole fear was becoming a beacon of sobriety.”
Matty Healy, in an interview with GQ (2019)
The incident underscores Healy’s position as a cultural broker in the music industry.
Matty Healy has spent his career oscillating between vulnerability and provocation, recovery and chaos, sincerity and performance. He is engaged to a model who matches his aesthetic, sober after a near-fatal addiction, still dealing with the residual glow of a Taylor Swift romance, and wearing skirts to a rock concert. For fans, the appeal is the tension: a man who refuses to be one thing. For onlookers, the price of that refusal is constant scrutiny. The implication for Healy himself is a career that remains perpetually interesting — but also perpetually open to interpretation. For anyone following music, celebrity, or just the question of how a public figure rebuilds after hitting bottom, the story is not over. It never really is.
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For more on Matty Healy’s diagnosis and sobriety, Matty Healys diagnosis and sobriety offers a deeper look into how these factors shaped his recent work.
Frequently asked questions
How long did Matty Healy and Taylor Swift date?
They dated for a few months in the spring and early summer of 2023. Healy later disputed the idea that it lasted exactly two months, calling that timeline “ridiculous” (ELLE). The relationship ended by July 2023.
Is Matty Healy married?
No. He is engaged to Gabbriette Bechtel as of June 2024. A wedding date has not been announced (Forbes).
What is Matty Healy’s real name?
Matthew Timothy Healy.
Does Matty Healy have any children?
No. He has no children from any past or current relationship.
What is Matty Healy’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely; as of 2025, it is reported in entertainment outlets to be in the range of $10–$20 million, largely from album sales, touring, and merchandise revenue with The 1975.
Is Matty Healy on Instagram?
Yes. His Instagram handle is @trumanblack, used for both music updates and personal posts.
What songs did Matty Healy write about Taylor Swift?
It is not confirmed that any songs are about Swift. Healy denied the rumour that The 1975’s next album would address the relationship (E! News). Fan speculation associates several songs on Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department with Healy, but he has not confirmed this.
Related reading: The contradictions of Matty Healy may remind some readers of other celebrities navigating addiction and public life. See Justin Bieber: Health, Relationships & Finances Update and the recovery story of Tony Adams: Arsenal Captain, Recovery Advocate & Highlights for parallel narratives of fame, fall, and reinvention.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.