The 1975 is facing a $2.4 million (£1.9 million) lawsuit from Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival following a controversial performance by the band’s frontman, Matty Healy, in July 2023. The legal action stems from an incident where Healy kissed bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage, which provoked backlash in the predominantly Islamic country.
During the festival, Healy openly criticized Malaysia’s LGBTQ+ laws before the on-stage kiss, an act that led to the band’s performance being abruptly cut short. Healy later claimed that he and his bandmates were briefly detained by authorities as a result of the incident.
The festival’s organizers, Future Sound Asia, are seeking financial damages from The 1975 and their management team, asserting that the band was well aware of the local restrictions and expectations. According to Variety, the lawsuit alleges that the band and their team were informed about the prohibitions on swearing, smoking, drinking, undressing, and discussing politics or religion on stage.
Court documents also indicate that it was explicitly communicated to the band that any form of on-stage kissing was prohibited. The band’s performance fee of $350,000 (£272,000) was reportedly based on the assumption that these rules would be followed.
Malaysia has stringent laws against LGBTQ+ activities, with individuals convicted of same-sex sexual acts potentially facing up to 20 years in prison and corporal punishment. The absence of protective legislation for the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia underscores the sensitive nature of such incidents.
The lawsuit, filed in the UK, reflects the festival’s pursuit of financial compensation for the disruption caused by the performance, which they claim breached the agreed-upon conditions for the show.
