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The 1975’s Matty Healy performed at a concert in Paris earlier this year.
CNN –
A music festival in Malaysia has been canceled after British band The 1975’s lead singer Matty Healy criticized the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a bandmate on stage.
The onstage incident at Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes Festival on Friday night prompted the country’s communications ministry to cancel the remainder of the three-day event.
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 headlining performance on Friday, captured in video that shared widely on social media, Healy said, “I don’t see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”
“Unfortunately you don’t get a lot of uplifting songs because I’m freaking angry. And that’s not fair to you because you’re not representative of your government. You are young people 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, fuck off. I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before and it doesn’t feel good,” Healy says in the video, before bassist Ross MacDonald approaches and kisses him on stage.
The Good Vibes Festival said in a statement following the incident: “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 the controversial behavior and comments by British artist Matty Healy of the band The 1975.”
“This decision is in accordance with the immediate cancellation order issued at 1.20pm [local time], 22 July 2023, by the Department of Communications and Digital. The Ministry has underscored its unwavering stance on any party questioning, ridiculing or violating Malaysian laws,” the festival’s statement continued. “We sincerely apologize to all of our ticket holders, vendors, sponsors and partners.”
Communications Minister Fahmi said Malaysia is committed to supporting the development of creative industries and freedom of expression, Portal reported.
“However, never touch the sensibilities of the community, especially those that run counter to the traditions and values of the local culture,” he said, according to the agency.
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 would lead to a further crackdown on artistic expression and make it more difficult for music artists to perform in Malaysia in the future.
Members of Malaysia’s LGBTQ community have also criticized Healy’s actions. Some called it “performative” and warned it could lead to further discrimination.
It’s not the first time the 1975 frontman has sparked controversy — Healy drew criticism earlier this year for appearing to perform an onstage Nazi salute during a song titled “Love it If We Made It” while singing lyrics critical of Kanye West.
In 2019, Healy kissed a male fan during a concert in Dubai, breaking the region’s anti-LGBT laws.
Healy later tweeted: “Thank you so much Dubai you were so amazing. I don’t think my ‘behaviour’ will allow us to go back, but I know I love you and I wouldn’t have done anything differently if I had the chance again.”