The 1975 Is Being Sued After Matty Healy’s Kiss Of A Bandmate Shut Down A Music Festival In Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The 1975 is being sued after Matty Healy’s on-stage kiss of a bandmate disrupted a Malaysian music event last year.

Healy used profanity to criticize Malaysia’s anti-homosexual policies before kissing bassist Ross MacDonald during the band’s headline performance at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. In Malaysia, homosexuality is considered a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning.

1975 | Billboard Image

The 1975 Is Being Sued After Matty Healy’s Kiss Of A Bandmate Shut Down A Music Festival In Malaysia

Festival organiser Future Sound Asia has filed a lawsuit seeking 1.9 million pounds ($2.5 million) in damages for breach of contract and losses. According to lawyer David Dinesh Mathew, it filed a case against The 1975 Productions LLP and all four band members in London’s High Court on July 23.

The authorities condemned Healy’s actions, banned the band from the nation, and canceled the three-day event. Some members of the LGBTQ+ community also criticized the band, claiming Healy had hindered the work of campaigners advocating for change and endangered the community.

In its lawsuit, the FSA said that the band had previously performed at the festival in 2016 and had been warned that performance rules prohibited swearing, smoking, consuming alcohol, discussing politics and religion, or engaging in improper behavior like kissing.

Malaysian officials initially refused to allow the band to perform due to allegations of Healy’s drug addiction and subsequent recovery but relented after the band guaranteed Healy would follow all norms and regulations, according to the FSA.

The band’s fee for their one-hour show was $350,000, of which the majority was paid, but the FSA deemed their actions a “clear and deliberate breach” of their contract.

Representatives from 1975 did not reply to calls for comment on the complaint.

The 1975 Is Being Sued After Matty Healy’s Kiss Of A Bandmate Shut Down A Music Festival In Malaysia

The lawsuit followed last year’s unsuccessful attempts to seek compensation from the band. Mathew stated that the defendants are anticipated to file their defense in September.

Following the incident in Malaysia’s capital, the band canceled gigs in Taiwan and Indonesia last year.

SOURCE | AP