1975 singer Matty Healy playfully teased their Malaysian ban during a Lollapalooza performance, highlighting the unity among fans. While speaking, he jokingly mentions travel tips but is cut short by his bandmates.
The group’s return at Lollapalooza follows their controversial show in Kuala Lumpur, where Healy’s comments against anti-LGBTQIA+ laws led to their ban.
Healy’s attempted endorsement drew backlash online as it was seen by some as “performance activism,” and the Good Vibes Festival was canceled due to the controversy.
Read on to learn more.
Matty Healy Offers Latest Post-Ban Travel Advice
MEGA
Matty Healy recently joked about The 1975 being banned in Malaysia during their headlining show at Lollapalooza. While performing on the Bud Light stage in Chicago’s Grant Park, the frontman humorously quipped, per Page Six“What would we do without a little drama, right?”
He took a sip from his flask and laughed wryly, adding, “Look at this. They’re always on the internet, always [talking about how we’re] united by things we don’t like. And look – there are hundreds of thousands of people united for something they love. That’s a real phenomenon.”
During their set that featured hits like “Chocolate,” “Someone Else,” and “Oh Caroline,” Healy began sharing travel tips, saying, “One of my travel tips? Don’t go to…”
However, he was interrupted by his bandmates strumming their instruments, preventing him from saying “Malaysia.” These light jokes add an entertaining twist to their performances.
Matty Healy Hugs Tom DeLonge During Concert
Instagram | Matty Healy
Among the standout moments of their two-hour show, an excited Healy ran off the stage upon spotting Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge in the audience.
Healy, still singing “Robbers,” pulled DeLonge for a hug, joking, “[He’s] people who inspire me to talk about my problems just like me.”
The Lollapalooza appearance marks the return of The 1975 after their full event at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on July 21. This was their first performance since the controversial event.
Malaysian Authorities Ban 1975 Ends
The year 1975 has always stood up for what they believe in. Matty has been a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and still continues to speak out about it as he gets truly a living legend.pic.twitter.com/uw1wDsaYsu
— esra (@vibessesra) July 21, 2023
Last month, Malaysian authorities barred The 1975 from performing further after Healy launched an explicit criticism of the country’s anti-LGBTQIA+ regulations during a concert. The singer went further, making a strong statement by sharing a passionate kiss with her bassist on stage.
In response to the country’s strict laws, Healy addressed the crowd, saying, “I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool. I pulled up this show yesterday, and we had a conversation. We said, ‘You know what? We cannot let the children down because they are not the government.”
He added, “If you want to invite me here to perform, you can make love. I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before, and it’s unpleasant.”
Instagram | Matty Healy
Following this incident, the Good Vibes Festival decided to cancel the remaining days of the event, citing Healy’s “controversial behavior and statements”.
In a statement released, the organizers shared that they received an “immediate cancellation instruction” from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Malaysia. “The Ministry has outlined its unwavering stance against any party that challenges, ridicules, or violates Malaysian laws,” the statement said.
The organizers apologized, saying, “We sincerely apologize to all our ticket holders, vendors, sponsors and partners. We are aware of the time, energy and effort you put into making this festival a success, and we appreciate your strong support.”
Matty Healy Receives Backlash For His ‘Performance Activism’
Instagram | Matty Healy
Healy’s apparent show of solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community in Malaysia sparked criticism online, as many accused him of engaging in “performance activism” that could potentially increase challenges for an already vulnerable community.
Carmen Rose, a Malaysian drag performer, voiced her concerns on Twitter, state“Matt Healy has certainly aggravated the queer Malaysians who actually live here, and have to face the consequences because we all know our politicians will use this to further their agenda.”
He continued, “There’s a time and a place to get someone’s message across and what Matt is doing is just performative activism. They can go back to their special lives while we deal with the brunt of this mess.”
Another critic said, “They have been banned but they don’t live there it doesn’t affect them whatsoever they will return to their homes without any problem but what about the thousands of strange Malaysians who will face the consequences now? white people need to go to hell.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
