The British band The 1975 is being sued by Malaysian festival organizers for $2.5 million after frontman Matty Healy kissed bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage. The incident took place during the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur, where Healy condemned Malaysia’s stringent anti-LGBTQ+ laws before sharing the controversial kiss.
Malaysia, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to 20 years in prison, enforces strict guidelines for public performances. Despite assurances from The 1975 that they would adhere to local regulations, the band’s actions led to the abrupt termination of their set. Festival organizers claim that the band’s defiance of these rules breached their contract and caused significant financial and reputational damage.
The fallout from the incident was immediate. The band canceled subsequent performances in Indonesia and Taiwan. Locally, the act of defiance was criticized for potentially endangering the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia, where there are no protections against discrimination or hate crimes, and conversion practices remain prevalent.
The lawsuit, filed by Future Sound Asia, seeks to recoup the losses incurred from the festival’s cancellation. The organizers emphasize that The 1975’s actions had far-reaching consequences, impacting local artists and small businesses that relied on the festival for their livelihood. David Mathew, a lawyer for the event organizer, stated, “The claim against The 1975 is essentially for breach of contract. Their actions have had repercussions on local artists and small businesses.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the case highlights the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community in regions with repressive laws. The band’s members must file their defense by September 19, with the case set to proceed in the High Court in London.