The 1975 Faces $2.4M Malaysian Lawsuit Over Banned Festival Performance
The 1975's controversial performance in Malaysia led to a $2.4 million lawsuit from Good Vibes Festival organizer Future Sound Asia (FSA), following the band's frontman Matty Healy kissing bassist Ross MacDonald on stage while criticizing the country's anti-homosexuality laws.
The 1975 frontman Matty Healy performing
Photo Credit: Matty Healy (The 1975) by Markus Maier / CC by 4.0
A London judge recently ruled that individual band members cannot be held personally liable, allowing the case to proceed only against The 1975 Productions LLP. FSA must pay $126,000 in legal costs.
FSA's attorney revealed that authorities initially refused the band's performance due to concerns about Healy's drug history. The band had previously performed at the festival in 2016, agreeing to specific behavioral guidelines including no swearing, smoking, drinking, or discussing politics.
During the 2023 performance, the band allegedly violated these terms by:
- Smuggling wine on stage
- Delivering what was deemed an "obscene speech"
- Performing the controversial same-sex kiss
The incident resulted in:
- Immediate festival shutdown
- Cancellation of subsequent shows in Jakarta and Taiwan
- Malaysian government blacklisting the band
This wasn't Healy's first such protest - he previously kissed a male fan during a 2019 show in the United Arab Emirates, where same-sex activity is also illegal.
The case continues against the band's production company, with FSA pursuing damages for breach of contract, while The 1975 remains banned from performing in Malaysia.