13-10-2023 (TEXAS) Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, has spoken out in defense of his same-sex kiss onstage at Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival earlier this year. During the band’s recent concert in Fort Worth, Texas on October 9th, Healy took the opportunity to address the controversy surrounding the kiss, claiming that the band was “briefly imprisoned” after the incident.
In a 10-minute pre-written speech, Healy addressed the audience, clarifying the circumstances surrounding the kiss. He emphasized that The 1975 did not visit Malaysia without prior knowledge and invitation. The band had been invited to headline the festival by a government that was fully aware of their well-publicized political views and their routine stage show.
Healy stated, “Me kissing bassist Ross MacDonald was not a stunt intended to provoke the government. It was a regular part of The 1975’s stage show, which had been performed many times before.”
He went on to challenge the notion that the kiss was a form of colonialism, dismissing such claims as a complete inversion of the word’s meaning. Healy explained that The 1975 was invited to Malaysia to headline the music festival, with the organizers seeking to capitalize on the band’s popularity for financial gain. He stressed that the band had no power or authority to enforce their will on anyone in Malaysia, despite being briefly imprisoned by the Malaysian authorities.
Following Healy’s same-sex kiss at the Good Vibes Festival, the Malaysian authorities shut down the entire event. This decision led vendors and other artists to find alternative ways to entertain festivalgoers. Future Sound Asia, the festival’s organizer, has filed a lawsuit against The 1975, demanding damages of RM12.3 million (S$3.5 million).
In September, Healy announced that The 1975 would be going on an “indefinite hiatus” after their current tour concludes in March. He later clarified that the band is not splitting up, but rather taking a break from their music career.
