(CNN) – A music festival in Malaysia has been canceled after British band The 1975 lead singer Matty Healy criticized the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a bandmate on stage.
Friday night’s incident on stage at Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes Festival prompted the country’s communications ministry to cancel the remainder of the event, which is expected to last three days.
Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and carry fines and up to 20 years in prison.
In a profanity-laden speech during the band’s performance, which was captured in video that circulated widely on social media, Healy said, “I don’t see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling them who we can have sex with.”
“Unfortunately we can’t offer you many happy songs because I’m really angry. And that’s not fair to you because you don’t represent the government. “You are young and I’m sure many of you are gay and progressive,” he said in his address to the audience. Healy added that the band considered canceling the show but decided against it in order not to disappoint fans.
“If you want to invite me over here to do a show, you can f… I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before and it doesn’t feel right,” Healy says in the video, before bassist Ross MacDonald approaches and kisses him onstage.
“Performative”
Following the incident, the Good Vibes Festival said: “We deeply regret to announce that the remainder of the Good Vibes Festival 2023 schedule scheduled for today and tomorrow has been canceled due to controversial behavior and comments from UK recording artist Matty Healy of The 1975.”
“This decision is consistent with the immediate cancellation order issued at 1:20 p.m. [hora local], 22 July 2023, by the Department of Communications and Digital. “The Ministry has underscored its unwavering stance towards any party that defies, ridicules or violates Malaysian laws,” the festival statement continued. “We sincerely apologize to the ticket audience, vendors, sponsors and partners.”
CNN has reached out to Malaysia’s Home Office and Prime Minister’s Office for comment.
Healy’s actions sparked controversy online. Some fans complained that the band’s actions could lead to another crackdown on artistic expression in Malaysia in the future.
Members of the Malaysian LGBTQ community have also criticized Healy’s actions. Some called them “performative” and warned they could lead to further discrimination.
It’s not the first time the 1975 frontman has sparked controversy: Healy drew criticism earlier this year for doing what appeared to be a Nazi salute onstage during a song titled “Love it If We Made It,” the lyrics of which criticize Kanye West.
In 2019, Healy kissed a male fan during a concert in Dubai, breaking the region’s anti-LGBT laws.
After that moment, Healy tweeted: “Thank you Dubai you were amazing. I don’t think we should come back because of my ‘behaviour’ but I know I love you and I wouldn’t have done anything differently if I had the chance again.”