Over the weekend, British rock band “The 1975” was banned from Malaysia for violating the country’s strict anti-LGBT laws.
The ban came just one day after frontman Matty Healy publicly condemned Malaysia’s laws against homosexuality during the band’s concert on Friday evening at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Healy concluded by kissing bassist Ross MacDonald, drawing the anger of the Malaysian government.
Homosexuality is fully criminalized in Malaysia, punishable by hefty fines and as many as 20 years in prison.
“I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy told the audience when the band took the stage. He said the band considered pulling out of the festival entirely but chose to perform to avoid disappointing fans. “That’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government,” he said. “You are young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive.” Video uploaded to social media then shows MacDonald walking over for the controversial lip-lock while the crowd cheered.
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Healy, an outspoken LGBT ally and self-described “traditional progressive,” is no stranger to these kinds of on-stage statements. During a 2019 show in Dubai, he similarly criticized the government’s anti-LGBT laws and kissed a male fan from the crowd. He later posted a tweet in anticipation of being banned from the United Arab Emirates for his activism.
But the response to Healy’s performance in Malaysia had consequences reaching beyond just his own band. Following The 1975’s exit from the venue on Friday, the Malaysian government canceled the remainder of the Good Vibes Festival, which was supposed to run for the rest of the weekend. “There will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages, and violates Malaysian laws,” Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement.
Good Vibes organizers put out a statement saying in part: “We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule…has been canceled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band 1975.” Good Vibes then apologized to its ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners.
Official statement from @goodvibesfest pic.twitter.com/XqsWegteWt
— Good Vibes Festival (@GoodVibesFest) July 22, 2023
Additionally, members of the LGBT community in Malaysia condemned Healy’s on-stage activism, calling it “performative” and expressing concerns that his public disregard for the law will only make the government’s discrimination worse.
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