22-7-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) The 1975 were headlining the Good Vibes Festival in the Malaysian capital on Friday when lead singer Matty Healy used the band’s set to attack the country’s anti-LGBT laws. During the performance, Healy kissed bass player Ross MacDonald in protest against the country’s laws that make homosexuality illegal and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
In footage of the incident shared online, Healy is seen telling the crowd that the band’s decision to perform in Malaysia had been a “mistake.” He went on to say that he did not “see the point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”
Healy and MacDonald then kissed as the band played the song I Like America & America Likes Me. The band walked off stage 30 minutes into their set, with Healy telling the audience, “Alright, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later.”
A source close to the 1975 confirmed the incident, saying that Healy has a “long-time record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil criticized the band’s performance on Twitter, calling it “very disrespectful” and saying that he had contacted festival organizers for a full report.
Healy has previously used his appearances on stage to highlight anti-LGBT laws. In 2019, he invited a male fan on stage during a gig in Dubai to hug him, before sharing a quick kiss. The incident attracted criticism in the country, where homosexuality is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
The Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur also featured performances by the Strokes, Dermot Kennedy, and Ty Dollar $ign. In a short statement, festival organizers said that the 1975’s set was stopped due to “non-compliance with local performance guidelines.”
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
