Matty Healy — who issued a non-apology earlier this year after he laughed about racist and derogatory comments about Ice Spice on the Adam Freidland Show in February — went on stage during The 1975’s show at the Hollywood Bowl to apologize for his actions that “have hurt some people” before acting out a therapy ad.
“I think it is important to take inventory of yourself. So you become aware when your intentions and your actions don’t align. So, because some of my actions have hurt some people, I apologize those people and I pledge to be better moving forward,” Healy told the crowd on Monday night.
Historically one to apologize with the need for clarification, the singer added, “But I think it’s also important I express my intentions, so everybody knows that there is no ill will. For me, you see, as a artist, I want to create an environment for myself to perform where not everything that I do is taken, literally.”
Referring to the podcast incident in February, Healy said that he had “performed exaggerated versions” of himself on “other stages be in print or in one podcast,” and that it was often a misguided attempted to fulfill the “character role of the 21st century Rockstar.”
He continued, “You can probably also say that men would rather do offensive impressions for attention and then go to therapy.” However, towards the end, Healy appeared to rattle off an ad placement for the online therapy service BetterHelp as cue cards were brought to him on stage and as a banner ad appeared on a giant screen.
The singer has previously fallen back on his claims of misguided intentions and his inability as a grown man to control his “excitement.” In July, during an outdoor show at Finsbury Park in London, he used the opportunity to address the recent backlash. “I was always trying stuff. And some stuff I got right and some stuff I got wrong,” he said before continuing, “What I mean is that I really am only doing this because I want to make you guys laugh and feel good. That’s what my favorite art does and that’s what I’m trying to do. I get a bit excited.”
In a recent interview with Variety, Ice Spice opened up about the strange interaction with the frontman and revealed that he apologized to her “a bunch of times.” The rapper seemed unbothered by Healy’s attempts to get a rise out of people. “Sometimes I just wake up and I’m like, ‘I’ma text Taylor’ or ‘I’ma text Nicki.’ And then they be answering, and I’m like, ‘Wow, that really makes me feel like that girl, for real,’” she added. “Them supporting me and just encouraging me gives me all the motivation I need.”