The title of the song itself suggests Taylor Swift took a jab at Matt Healy with “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.” He seems to resent that the public believes he’s short when he’s 5-foot-11. “It’s the f***ing rest of the band,” he said in a video Pop Crave shared on X in 2022. Swift also seemingly threw shade a Healy’s signature look comprised of a suit and tie. “Gazing at me starry-eyed / In your Jehovah’s Witness suit,” she sings, possibly comparing his style to the religion followers’ way of dressing.
The lyrics also indicate the breakup wasn’t consensual and that Healy disappeared on her. “You tried to buy some pills / From a friend of friends of mine / They just ghosted you / Now you know what it feels like,” she wrote, potentially also referring to Healy’s history of addiction and use of anxiety meds. Also, Swift’s mention of the season offered another hint that “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” is about her apparently not-so-casual fling with Healy.
“I just want to know / If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal,” the lyrics read. Reports announced their split in early June 2023, just as Swift was getting ready for summer. None of this suggests Swift has fond memories of her time with Healy, but the biggest proof comes at the end. “I’ll forget you, but I’ll never forgive / The smallest man who ever lived.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
