British band The 1975 is facing a $2.4 million lawsuit from the organisers of the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia after frontman Matty Healy kissed bassist Ross Macdonald on stage in protest against the country’s strict anti-LGBT laws. The incident, which occurred in July last year, led to the cancellation of the three-day event, causing significant fallout.
Future Sound Asia (FSA), the festival organisers, stated that the band had provided a pre-show written assurance to adhere to all local regulations, including Malaysia’s laws prohibiting homosexuality. Despite this, Healy used the performance to criticise the country’s policies, resulting in the event being axed and headline acts such as The Kid Laroi and The Strokes not performing.
Court documents revealed that FSA had repeatedly informed The 1975 about local restrictions, which included bans on public displays of affection, such as kissing, as well as regulations against swearing, smoking, and discussing political and religious matters during performances. Despite agreeing to these terms in a $350,000 contract, Healy’s actions violated these conditions.
During the performance in Kuala Lumpur, Healy delivered a speech criticising Malaysia’s stance on homosexuality, which is illegal in the country and can be punishable by imprisonment or worse. Healy’s speech was followed by him kissing Macdonald, which the organisers claim led to the festival’s cancellation.
The FSA is now seeking damages, asserting that the band’s breach of contract caused significant financial and reputational harm. The organisers have also highlighted that Healy’s behaviour, which they described as involving abusive language and equipment damage, was a key factor in the decision to cancel the event.
In response, a source close to the band told MailOnline that Healy has a long-standing record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and that the band’s actions were intended to support their LGBTQ+ fans and the broader community. Legal counsel for FSA, David Mathew, stated that the suit is primarily for breach of contract, emphasising that Healy and the band’s live performance was supposed to comply with local regulations, which were reportedly ignored.
Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws are among the strictest in the world, with homosexuality being illegal and punishable by imprisonment or other severe penalties under Sharia law for Muslim citizens. The country also lacks laws protecting LGBTQ individuals from discrimination, and conversion therapy is both widely practised and publicly endorsed by prominent figures.
Following the controversy, The 1975 cancelled additional tour dates in Indonesia and Taiwan. The incident has further complicated relations between international artists and local regulations in Malaysia, with the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Digital blacklisting the band from future performances in the country.
The FSA has indicated that they may pursue legal proceedings in English courts if the lawsuit is not resolved. This case highlights ongoing tensions between cultural expression and local laws in countries with strict regulations on LGBTQ+ rights.
