ST.“Not Even 10%!” – Matty Healy Calls Taylor Swift’s $197M Bonus a Cheap Stunt, Jason Kelce’s Fierce Defense Promptly Forces Him to Delete Comment
$197M Drama: A Battle of Ideals 
The pop culture world exploded this week following a seemingly innocuous, yet deeply incendiary comment. When news broke that global superstar Taylor Swift had received an astonishing $197 million bonus, celebrations were expected.
However, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy threw a massive wrench into the machine, dismissing the monumental achievement with two shocking statements: “Not Even 10%!” and labeling the entire bonus a “cheap stunt.”
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Healy’s implication was clear: the number, while huge, represented only a fraction of Swift’s true market value, suggesting the public announcement was a calculated move rather than a pure financial reward. This bold—some would say reckless—critique of one of the world’s most successful artists immediately ignited a firestorm.
But what truly amplified the drama was the instantaneous and passionate defense that followed, delivered by none other than NFL icon and devoted Swiftie, Jason Kelce.
The Lightning-Fast Defense: Jason Kelce Steps Up 
Jason Kelce, known for his formidable presence on the football field and his increasingly vocal support for Taylor Swift and her impact (particularly since his brother Travis’s relationship with her began), did not hesitate. Kelce’s defense was not a mild disagreement; it was a fierce, public rebuttal that challenged the very basis of Healy’s critique.
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Sources close to the incident confirm that Kelce used his platform—which carries immense weight, especially among an audience valuing hard work and authenticity—to dismantle Healy’s “cheap stunt” narrative.
While the exact wording of his response has been widely discussed (and deleted social media posts often leave room for speculation), the consensus is that Kelce championed the bonus as a testament to Swift’s unprecedented economic power and tireless dedication to her craft.
He focused on the inspirational nature of the achievement. For the legions of fans and aspiring artists, the $197M bonus wasn’t just a number; it was a symbol of what a woman can achieve in a male-dominated industry through relentless songwriting, touring, and business acumen.
Kelce’s message was simple: celebrating a historic financial win is not a “stunt”; it is a deserved moment of triumph.
The Retreat: Healy Deletes Under Pressure 
The impact of Kelce’s defense was immediate and decisive. Within hours of his public statement, Matty Healy quietly deleted his original comment. This swift retraction speaks volumes about the power of Kelce’s rebuttal and the overwhelming reaction from the public.
Healy’s deletion serves as a powerful reminder of the current cultural landscape. While critical commentary is welcome, an attack that appears dismissive of an artist’s monumental success—especially when that artist is Taylor Swift—is met with an equally powerful counterforce.
Fans saw Healy’s comment as undermining the incredible effort required to earn such a massive bonus, and Kelce’s defense gave voice to that collective sentiment.
More Than Money: The Inspiration Behind the Numbers 
This story is about more than just a $197M bonus; it’s about inspiration, validation, and the modern definition of success.
For Taylor Swift’s dedicated fanbase, the number represents years of fighting for fair royalties, creative control, and breaking every conceivable record. Her success is often viewed not just as personal wealth, but as a victory for the artist-entrepreneur. This is why Healy’s “cheap stunt” label felt like a profound misreading of the cultural moment.
Jason Kelce’s action, therefore, was a heroic defense of this legacy. He understood that the fans needed someone to affirm their idol’s achievement. By forcing the deletion of the negative commentary, Kelce helped preserve the narrative of the $197M bonus as an inspirational benchmark for women in entertainment and business worldwide.
The controversy highlights a crucial distinction: true success is measured not just in dollars, but in the ability to inspire a generation. Swift’s bonus is a financial victory, but the inspiration it provides is priceless. Kelce simply made sure that narrative was the one that stuck.