Being A Progressive Bigot

Today I thought about the lead singer of The 1975, Matty Healy. He is a man who has said some quite disgusting things, and has constantly smirked in the face of controversy, including various racial and sexist comments. It’s a weird thing then, when his broader image, particularly coming from his band, has been nothing but overwhelming progressiveness. I see a band that has consistently pushed for a negative carbon footprint, called out toxic practices across the music industry, and has sung many left-leaning lyrics in songs like the punk anthem “People” and chaotic, politically-charged “Love It If We Made It”. How does a band that seems so progressive, also come from a man who seems so…not?

Via CBC Radio

It makes me think immediately that it’s all some kind of elaborate, annoying joke. Maybe Matty Healy is just someone who loves a bad joke. Maybe it’s a person who craves attention. Maybe it’s even someone suffering from some kind of addiction and can’t control themselves, but does that excuse anything? Do personal issues give someone a pass for making offensive comments? It’s hard to say and it’s even harder to discuss. It’s a discussion that’s hard to have when you fear causing backlash, but it’s a conversation worth having, and one that opens the door to bigger questions.

I’m reminded of someone like Roman Polanski, who is undeniably despicable, yet a creator of powerful, progressive art. It circles back to the old debate: can we separate the art from the artist? Or more specifically, can someone be personally offensive while still being culturally progressive?

I should clarify, I'm not saying that Matty Healy's controversial comments are anywhere near the level of the crimes committed by someone like Roman Polanski. They’re not. What interests me more is this strange gap between the person and the art: how someone who often comes across as bad, whether that’s arrogant, offensive or chaotic, can make work that feels deeply good, even healing. How does someone who says the wrong things so often still manage to create songs that are thoughtful, empathetic, and progressive?

Still from The Pianist (2002).

I don’t have any of the answers and I don’t know what else to talk about here, so I will leave it to discussion. I simply find it interesting how people work, particularly when it comes to their values and then their actions. Maybe that in itself is worth another post?

Thanks for reading.