Denise Welch, 67, delivers 3-word verdict on son Matty Healy's Glastonbury performance amid backlash to 1975 set

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BBC
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 28/06/2025

- 22:00

The 1975 were the first headliners at this year's Glastonbury

Denise Welch has heaped praise on her son Matty Healy following The 1975's divisive Glastonbury headline performance on Friday night.

Welch attended the festival with her current partner, Matty's stepfather Lincoln Townley. The former Coronation Street actress shared video footage on her Instagram stories showing an emotional moment after the performance.


The Loose Women star took to Instagram to share her support, reposting a clip from the band's Pyramid Stage set that described it as "1000/10".

Welch included her own emotional caption to capture her feelings on the night, typing out a series of crying emojis over the fan video.

Matt Healy

Matt Healy was met with a rather mixed reception from Glastonbury viewers

GETTY

Soon after, the 67-year-old television personality then delivered her own three-word verdict of her son's performance at Worthy Farm.

Sharing a video of a fan's flag that had her face printed on it, Welch wrote in the accompanying caption: "An unbelievable night!!!"

Her enthusiastic response came despite the band's set proving controversial amongst festival-goers, with many taking to social media to criticise the frontman's stage presence and antics during what was advertised as The 1975's only show of the year.

The 36-year-old singer emerged onto the stage carrying a pint of Guinness, which he didn't appear to drink throughout the performance, whilst holding a cigarette in his other hand.

Denise Welch

Denise Welch had three words to describe her son's set

INSTAGRAM

During the set, Healy made what appeared to be a reference to his ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift, who allegedly wrote about their brief 2023 relationship in her album The Tortured Poets Department.

"What this moment is making me realise is that - yeah. This moment is making me realise. I probably am the best so I'm probably the best songwriter of my generation," Healy said during his set.

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"A poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am," he told the crowd.

The band then launched into their hit Chocolate before Healy indicated he was joking about being a poet.

The performance sparked intense debate on social media. One viewer wrote: "Matty Healy swaggering about with a pint he's no intention of drinking is the most annoying thing I've ever seen."

Another commented: "The thing which makes Matty Healy so insufferable is it's very easy to imagine that all the b*****dery he does on stage isn't just for the performance but that he would genuinely sashay into Gregg's reciting 14th century French poetry."

Denise Welch

Denise Welch was also left tearful judging by her Instagram post

INSTAGRAM

However, some defended the frontman. "Say what you want about matty Healy but he is a SHOW MAN," one fan posted.

Another added: "I do understand why Matty Healy is a polarising character but I think The 1975 are a brilliant band with sharp songwriting, brilliant diversity in sound & excellent musicianship."

Matty Healy

Matty Healy performed on Friday night

GETTY

Welch had previously told The Mirror she had been "stressing out" ahead of her son's appearance due to the pressure of headlining the annual event.

She admitted: "I've not really been a festival bunny - I don't really do festivals."

She opted to stay off-site in what appeared to be a glamping setup with a hot tub, rather than camping at the festival grounds.