
Malaysian Festival Cancelled After The 1975’s Matty Healy Kisses Male Band Member On Stage
A Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled after The 1975鈥檚 lead singer, Matty Healy, and bass guitarist, Ross MacDonald, kissed on stage in protest of the countries’ stance against LGBT rights.
The three-day Good Vibes festival was stopped by organisers and the Malaysian Government following the band’s performance on Friday night.
Known for their support for queer rights, the band was forced off the stage following the kiss and Healy鈥檚 comments against the Malaysian Government鈥檚 anti-LGBT policies.
鈥淚f you push, I鈥檓 gonna push back鈥
Mid-way through the band’s set on Friday night, Healy began expressing his frustrations saying he 鈥渕ade a mistake鈥 when booking the show.
鈥 I don鈥檛 see the fucking point鈥 of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,鈥 he continued.
鈥淚鈥檓 sorry if that offends you, and you鈥檙e religious, but your government are a bunch of fucking r*鈥 If you push, I鈥檓 gonna push back. I鈥檓 not in the fucking mood.鈥
Healy continued by telling audiences that there weren’t many 鈥渦plifting songs鈥 in the set due to his anger against the government, empathising with the crowd saying 鈥渢hat鈥檚 not fair on you, because you鈥檙e not representative of your government.鈥
鈥淵ou are young people, and I鈥檓 sure a lot of you are gay and progressive.鈥
He says the band questioned whether to perform at the festival the night prior, choosing to perform to not let their fans down.
鈥淚f you want to invite me here to do a show, you [Malaysian Government] can fuck off. I鈥檒l take your money, you can ban me, but I鈥檝e done this before, and it doesn鈥檛 feel good.鈥
The band’s Bass player, MacDonald, proceeded to walk towards Healy and shared a prolonged kiss on stage.
It wasn’t shortly after that officials stepped in to tell Healy that the band could not continue performing.
鈥淎lright, we gotta鈥 go. We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, I鈥檒l see you later,鈥 Healy announced leaving the stage.
This isn’t the bands first controversy with not abiding government laws. The band was kicked off stage following a similar incident in Dubai during their 2019 tour.
During the performance, Healy kissed a male fan in protest of similar laws by the United Arab Emirates against homosexuality.
Festival Intervened by Government
On Saturday morning, Good Vibes announced they would not continue with the festival and line up following the Malaysian Government stepping in following the incident.
Official statement from
— Good Vibes Festival (@GoodVibesFest)
Organisers for the festival, Future Sound Asia (FSA), denounced Healy鈥檚 actions saying he took them 鈥渂y complete surprise.鈥
FSA says the festival needed to be halted due to Healy breaching the festival’s policies of not upholding the country’s laws and guidelines.
The Malaysian Communications minister, Fahmi Fadzil, justified the festival’s cancellation on Twitter saying, 鈥淭here will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages and violates Malaysian laws.鈥
Malaysia has a large Muslim population with the government choosing not to recognise queer relationships and legalising various anti-LGBT policies.
According to Ashley & Lyrics 17c起草社区+ Travel Safety Index, Malaysia is considered a part of the 10 most dangerous places for queer people to visit. The country has banned pro-LGBT organisations and rhetoric, with homosexuality being punishable by imprisonment for up to 14 years.




