British pop rock group The 1975 have been banned from performing in Malaysia after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, defying the country’s strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
During the band’s performance, Healy expressed frustration, declaring that he would not be silenced and that the government’s actions were oppressive. The Good Vibes Festival issued an apology for canceling the event due to “controversial behavior and statements.”
Healy, who was recently in a relationship with singer Taylor Swift, responded to the government ban with comments that played down the situation.
Read on to learn more.
1975 Banned From Performing In Malaysia
MEGA
British pop rock group, The 1975, recently faced an unexpected setback in their world tour when they found themselves banned from performing in Malaysia. The reason behind this surprising decision stems from an incident that happened during a previous concert in the conservative capital, Kuala Lumpur.
During their performance at the Good Vibes Festival, the band’s lead singer Matty Healy bravely defied Malaysia’s strict anti-LGBTQIA+ laws by sharing a passionate kiss with his male bandmates on stage.
Before the kiss, Healy gave an impassioned speech, admitting to not researching national policy first.
He said, “I made a mistake. When we booked the show, I didn’t see it. I don’t see the point … inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”
“I’m sorry if that offends you, and you’re religious … but your government is a bunch of bad people. I don’t care anymore. If you refuse, I will refuse. I’m not in a f**king mood,” he added.
Matty Healy Kisses Bassist Ross MacDonald On Stage In Support Of The LGBTQIA+ Community
Instagram | Matty Healy
With a bottle of wine in hand, Healy continued to address the audience, admitting that he was torn between canceling the concert and standing in solidarity with his fans while acknowledging their progressive and open-minded nature. “I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool,” he said as the crowd cheered.
The “I’m in Love With You” singer continued, “I pulled up this show yesterday, and we talked. We said, ‘You know what? We cannot let the children down because they are not the government.’”
Unrepentant, the “About You” hitmaker added, “If you want to invite me here to perform, you can be kidding. I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before, and it’s not pleasant.”
As a symbol of unity and resistance, Healy approached The 1975’s bassist, Ross MacDonald, and passionate kiss to him, showing the group’s unity and unwavering support for the LGBTQIA+ community. After this challenging display, Healy bid farewell to the crowd, stating, “Well, we’ve got to go. We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later” before leaving the stage.
‘Try Not To Make Out With Ross’: Matty Healy Scoffs Ban Decision
Instagram | Matty Healy
Amidst the storm of controversy, Good Vibes Festival extends its sincere apologies to all ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners as they announce the cancellation of the highly anticipated three-day music event in Malaysia. The decision was made following what they referred to as “controversial behavior and statements” made by The 1975 frontman.
In response to the festival’s statement, Healy took to his Instagram story offering the sarcastic remark, “Ok, why don’t you try and not make out with Ross for 20 years? It’s not as easy as it looks.”
This incident is not the first time Healy has publicly challenged anti-LGBTQIA+ policies. In a bold move in 2019, during a concert in Dubai, where homosexuality is also illegal, she brazenly kissed a male fan.
After the performance, in a now-deleted tweet, he expressed his gratitude to the Dubai audience, writing, “Thank you Dubai, you are amazing.”
He continued, per Page Six“I don’t think we’ll be allowed back because of my ‘behavior’ but know that I love you and I wouldn’t do anything differently if given the chance again.”
Fans Slam Matty Healy For His ‘Performance Activism’
Instagram | Matty Healy
Healy’s purported display of support for the LGBTQIA+ community in Malaysia sparked heated debate online, with many accusing the singer of engaging in “performance activities” that could potentially exacerbate the challenges facing the already marginalized community.
According to Daily MailCarmen Rose, a Malaysian drag queen and entertainer, took to Twitter to voice her concerns, saying, “Matt Healy is definitely aggravating the queer Malaysians who actually live here, and have to face the consequences because we all know our politicians are going to use this to continue their agenda.”
Another Twitter user recorded“This is not a good thing please, the gay community here is [been] got so much hate before, and what do you expect after this show society will be better [?]please you make it worse to be gay in this country.”
A third user added, “This is insane because he can just go back to the US or the UK and live comfortably, but the local queer community now has to suffer the potential consequences.”
“What about the strange Malaysia that has to face the consequences of the 1975 actions while they [are] get a ‘praise’? They really made it worse. Do they really think kisses and provocations can solve things? Is that the only solution they can think of [of]?” another concerned person asked Twitter.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
