Former Little Mix member JADE has publicly criticised The 1975’s Matty Healy for his recent comments about avoiding political messaging in music. In a new interview with The Guardian, JADE responded to Healy’s statements during The 1975’s June Glastonbury performance, where he said the band wanted their legacy to be about “love and friendship” rather than politics. “It’s very easy for someone who’s white and straight and very privileged to say that. Good for you, hun!” JADE said, calling Healy’s position “disappointing.”
JADE’s frustration isn’t abstract. She has been vocal and fearless with her platform, particularly since going solo. At Glastonbury, she took the stage at the Woodsies and led the crowd in a chant that targeted Reform UK, welfare cuts, transphobia, suppression of protest, arms sales, and genocide. That performance was a clear statement of how she views the role of artists in turbulent times.
Matty Healy has made his disinterest in politics a firm position, one that he frames as intentional, a conscious distancing. Fans have responded in real time. Some praised JADE’s candour, celebrating her conviction and calling out silence as a form of privilege. Others questioned the consistency of her stance, pointing out that Healy has previous political flashes, including international protests and outspoken commentary.
Her debut solo album THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! lands September 12, and she is riding a wave of outspoken authenticity. Her commentary adds a new layer to public perception of both artists, casting her forward as an artist unafraid to speak up and spotlighting Healy’s deliberate neutrality. The narrative unfolding today is less about disagreement and more about whether silence can ever be justified in the face of urgency.
