Jade Thirlwall calls out Matty Healy on politics

Jade Thirlwall criticizes Matty Healy for avoiding politics and highlights the role of public figures in speaking up about Gaza.

Jade Thirlwall Says Matty Healy Should Embrace Politics

Jade Thirlwall told the Guardian that she supports Palestine and believes public figures must speak up about Gaza. She says it is disappointing when a white, privileged artist says they do not want to be political. The Guardian piece recalls a June concert moment when Matty Healy said he does not want the band’s legacy to be political, adding that there is no need for more politics, only love and friendship. The article also notes Healy has faced controversy, including an act described as a supposedly ironic Nazi salute at a show.

The piece also mentions Thirlwall’s history of advocacy, including condemning Parliament’s vote to bomb Syria in 2015 and leading a chant at Glastonbury this year. It frames the debate as part of a wider conversation about how artists use their platforms and how audiences react to political statements in pop culture.

The clash highlights a broader tension between entertainment and political voice. Some fans want artists to speak up on human rights, while others fear politics could alienate listeners. The coverage can shape who is seen as credible when a celebrity weighs in, and it may pressure other artists to choose sides. At the same time the piece risks simplifying complex views into sound bites and framing the argument in ways that feed controversy rather than constructive dialogue.

Highlights

The conversation about when art should take a stand is unlikely to end soon.