The 1975 banned from performing in Malaysia after Matty Healy criticises government and anti-LGBTQ laws during festival set
nme.comThe 1975‘s Matty Healy criticised the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and its government on stage in their headlining set.The band has also been banned from performing in Malaysia, according to the country’s official agency responsible for approving filming and performance applications from foreign artists.During their headline set on Friday night (July 21), Healy called out the country’s anti-gay laws, criticised its government and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald on stage. “I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy told the crowd.
The 1975’s set was cut short, the band leaving the stage two songs after Healy’s statements.Malaysian law criminalises sexual activity between people of the same sex, with its penal code criminalising “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” and acts of “gross indecency”.After the incident, the Kuala Lumpur festival released an official statement saying that The 1975’s set was cut short due to “non-compliance with local performance guidelines”, but that the remaining two days of the festival would go ahead, with fans holding Friday tickets being able to attend one of the two days for free.However, on Saturday afternoon Malaysia’s communications minister shared on social media that he had met with festival organisers Future Sound Asia and ordered the rest of the festival cancelled.
Good Vibes Festival then issued an official statement to confirm its cancellation and that the decision was made following the incident during The 1975’s set.Saya telah memanggil penganjur Festival Good Vibes 2023 iaitu Future Sound Asia, susulan aksi dan kenyataan sangat biadab yang dipamerkan oleh artis dari UK "The 1975" di Sepang malam tadi..
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