Malaysia Halts Music Festival and Bans British Band The 1975 After Anti-LGBT Remarks
KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian government has halted a music festival in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and banned British pop rock band The 1975 from performing in the country. The move came after the band’s frontman, Matt Healy, kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticized Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws.
The Good Vibes Festival, a three-day event scheduled to run until Sunday, was abruptly canceled following the incident. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated in a tweet that there would be no compromise against any party that challenges or violates Malaysian laws. Homosexuality is considered a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia, and there have been concerns raised by rights groups about growing intolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community.
In videos posted on social media, Healy was seen kissing bassist Ross MacDonald and delivering a profanity-laden speech against Malaysia’s stance on homosexuality. He later ended the set prematurely, stating that the band had been banned from Kuala Lumpur.
The government committee responsible for overseeing performances by foreigners and filming in the country confirmed that The 1975 had been banned from performing in Malaysia. The band was also criticized for a similar incident in the United Arab Emirates last year, where homosexuality is also considered illegal.
The festival’s organizer, Future Sound Asia (FSA), apologized for the cancellation and cited Healy’s controversial conduct as the reason. FSA stated that The 1975’s management had assured compliance with performance guidelines but failed to honor their promises.
The cancellation of the festival has raised concerns about the impact on the local live arts scene and the reputation of Malaysia as a destination for music events. The festival was set to feature 43 performances from local and international artists.
Communications Minister Fahmi emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to supporting creative industries and freedom of expression. However, he warned against touching on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that go against local cultural traditions and values.
The incident has sparked uproar on Malaysian social media, with some members of the LGBT community accusing Healy of “performative activism” and expressing concerns about increased stigma and discrimination.
The 1975 are scheduled to perform at a festival in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday, the world’s most populous Muslim country. The festival’s organizers have not responded to inquiries regarding whether the band will still perform.
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time in Malaysia, with major elections in six states scheduled for August. Opposing parties, largely representing the ethnic Malay community, have accused the current government of not doing enough to protect Muslim rights. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated his commitment to upholding Islamic principles and not recognizing LGBT rights.
The Malaysian government introduced stricter guidelines for foreign acts in March, including those related to dress code and conduct, in order to protect sensitivities.
Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Additional reporting by Bernadette Christina in Jakarta; Editing by William Mallard, Robert Birsel, and Nick Macfie