Charli XCX explains why she got Matty Healy on the I Might Say Something Stupid remix

‘I have huge amount of respect for him as a person – but sometimes want to strangle him’


You don’t really get more polarising in pop culture than Matty Healy. The 1975 frontman is constantly embroiled in scandal after he says something problematic or questionable. A cancellation of Matty Healy felt like it happened about once a month in 2022 and 2023, and beloved figures like Charli XCX still standing by him and being close friends with him has definitely raised eyebrows. Charli’s decision to stand by Matty Healy when her former friends like Rina Sawayama have put him on blast has been questioned by fans, and The 1975 being included on the Brat remix album again touched nerves. It’s now been confirmed Matty Healy will feature with Charli XCX on the remix of aptly named track I Might Say Something Stupid, and Charli’s addressed why.

In case you missed it all, Matty Healy was caught up in controversy after he appeared on a podcast where the hosts made jokes and did accents discussing the origin of Ice Spice’s name – and Matty was heard laughing. The internet wrongly accused Matty of making the comments directly, and Healy apologised to Ice Spice and the two are currently on good terms. Matty Healy was then wrapped up in controversy after joking he watched “Ghetto Gaggers” pornography, eventually explaining to The New Yorker how “people going, ‘Oh, there’s a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am.'” Matty has stated he has been playing an obnoxious version of himself as art for the last 1975 tour and album era, saying then in 2023 “The era of me being a fucking arsehole is coming to an end… I can’t perform off the stage anymore.”

In her big new Brat retrospective interview with Zane Lowe, building up to the release of Friday’s remix album, Charli XCX explains to Lowe about how Matty Healy got involved on the I Might Say Something Stupid remix. Charli and Matty have become extra close due to Charli’s engagement to George Daniel, who is the drummer of the band.

Lowe says “I don’t think anyone who loves the 1975 recognises the rollercoaster Matty’s been on through that last tour cycle. No one is going to ignore the pertinence of him being on that particular song at this moment in time. There are some really moving lines in there, some really eye-opening lines from him” Lowe asks Charli about her decision to get Matty on the track.

Charli explains “I really wanted him to do the song. He’s like my brother now. I hope he wouldn’t mind me saying this but I have endless amounts of respect for him as a songwriter and for him as a person. But I sometimes want to strangle him. Even before being with George [Daniel], years and years ago, I’ve always been such a fan of their work. He’s thinking of the way everything is digested in terms of their work, their artwork, their videos, their everything. It’s very, very holistic.”

Zane asks if Matty features on the track as an opportunity to be honest on recent backlash. “I can’t speak on his behalf at all,” Charli says. “All I can say from my perspective in terms of that show [the At Their Very Best 1975 tour] is that I just really enjoy people who take a risk in terms of what they’re putting out their artistically. That show is a little divisive, but I think great art is divisive.”

For more like this article plus all the latest news, drops, quizzes and memes, like The Tab on Facebook

Related articles recommended by this author:

Charli XCX Apple dance creator addresses viral Sweat tour stage invasion moment

This is exactly which Brat song each UK uni would be based on vibes and vibes alone

Charli XCX has spoken out against fans who were chanting ‘Taylor Swift is dead’ at her show