Matty Healy and his pop-rock band, The 1975, have been sued by Future Sound Asia for $2.4 million. The lawsuit was filed against the band because Matty criticized Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ+ law on stage at the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia. The incident took place during the music festival in July 2023 after which it was shut down.
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1975: $2.4 million lawsuit against
The organiser, Future Good Asia, sued each member of the pop-rock band individually for violating the code of conduct and protesting against the country’s anti-LBTQ+ laws. Now the festival organisers have demanded $2.4 million from the band for their behaviour on stage last year. The lawsuit documents filed in a UK court state that the band members were aware of the many rules and regulations they were required to follow during their performance on stage, as reported by The Guardian.
These rules include no drinking or smoking, undressing, or talking about religion or politics on stage. The Malaysia Central Agency for the Application for Foreign Filming and Performances by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) has enforced a strict ban on kissing or any kind of kissing with members or audience on stage.
Puspal had denied the band’s request to perform last summer, following Healy’s article on drug addiction in 2018. However, when the band agreed to follow all the guidelines outlined, the organisation allowed the band to perform.
Despite being educated about the guidelines, Healy kissed member Ross MacDonald and broke the law, resulting in the government revoking the festival’s license and shutting it down completely.
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2023 event
The lawsuit claimed the band deviated from its approved setlist and acted with intent to violate the guidelines, including by frontman Healy making inflammatory speeches and engaging in an exaggerated, offensive embrace with bassist Ross MacDonald. It also accused Healy of drinking alcohol on stage, behaving in an inebriated manner, smoking cigarettes, vomiting or making other obnoxious gestures, using foul language, and intentionally damaging a drone camera.
The band subsequently began packing up as they realised they had broken Malaysian law and needed to leave the country as soon as possible. Healy later said, “Me kissing Ross wasn’t just a stunt to provoke the government. It was an ongoing part of The 1975’s stage show which had been performed many times before. The idea that artists have a responsibility to take into account local cultural sensitivities wherever they are invited to perform sets a very dangerous precedent.”
