26-7-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) The 1975 frontman Matty Healy’s recent appearance at a festival in Malaysia’s capital – where he criticised the country’s homophobic laws and kissed a male bandmate on stage – has strongly angered conservatives in the country.
The 1975 has been banned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after Matty Healy and bandmate Ross MacDonald kissed on-stage during their set at Good Vibes Festival.
Before the kiss, Healy gave a speech on his disappointment in the country’s discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community. pic.twitter.com/XcHuPHiYr5
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 21, 2023
Members of the LGBTQ+ community have also expressed unease over his actions, fearing that the episode risks further exacerbating the hostilities they face.
According to drag performer Carmen Rose, Healy’s speech was “self-serving” and risked undoing activists’ work. “He gets to fly out of the country and not face the consequences, while our people have to face the brunt of what just happened,” she said.
During his headline set at the Good Vibes festival, Healy strongly criticized the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws in a profanity-laced speech while holding a wine bottle and spitting on stage.
He said: “Unfortunately you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious… a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool.” He then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald as they performed.
About 30 minutes later, the band left the stage early with Healy announcing they were “now banned.” The next day, organizers canceled the entire weekend event.
The government has said it will tighten rules for foreign acts, local media report.
Activists criticized the government’s response but also said Healy’s speech was not helpful. Dhia Rezki Rohaizad of LGBTQ+ group Jejaka said Healy had a right to free speech but “Doing it at this scale… is what is harmful.”
LGBTQ+ community members say there is value in foreign artists speaking out but they “need to be mindful of how they speak” and “understand how to go about it.” Otherwise, they “ may actually do more harm than good,” added Carmen Rose.
Speaking out just weeks before elections also worries activists like Thilaga Sulathireh, who notes campaign periods often coincide with rising hate speech. The national human rights commission’s statement also shows “how unprotected LGBT people feel,” Sulathireh said.
