The 1975 To Face Legal Action For Controversial Malaysian Good Vibes Festival Performance

Future Sound Asia (FSA), the promoters behind the Malaysian music festival Good Vibes, are pursuing a claim against The 1975 for their controversial performance and its subsequent cancellation of two days of the festival after vocalist Matty Healy broke the law on stage.

In case you missed it: The 1975’s set at Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur was cut short after Healy launched a furious tirade against the Malaysian government and kissed the band’s bassist Ross MacDonald on stage, directly breaking the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

“I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” said Healy onstage before the kiss.

Using an ableist slur in his speech, the singer continued, “I am sorry if that offends you and you’re religious, and it’s part of your fucking government, but your government are a bunch of fucking retards, and I don’t care anymore.”

The remainder of the three-day festival was cancelled due to Healy’s actions. In addition to a bummer ending for the festival, the Malaysian government has vowed to tighten entry requirements for international artists.

The 1975 has been banned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after Matty Healy and bandmate Ross MacDonald kissed on-stage during their set at Good Vibes Festival.

Before the kiss, Healy gave a speech on his disappointment in the country’s discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community. pic.twitter.com/XcHuPHiYr5

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 21, 2023

Future Sound Asia seeks liability and compensation for damages, namely the cancelled two days from The 1975. The Guardian reports that FSA is threatening to take action in the UK if the band don’t respond to the claim.

According to FSA’s comments, as reported by The Guardian, Healy “tarnished” the reputation of Good Vibes Festival and alleged that The 1975 “intentionally contravened the agreement [the band] had with FSA.”

Representatives for the band declined to comment on The Guardian’s story.

“Future Sound Asia’s claim against The 1975 is, in the main, one for intentional breach of contract,” the lawyer for FSA, David Matthew, said in a statement to Rolling Stone.

“Mr Healy’s representative categorically provided a pre-show written assurance that Mr Healy and The 1975’s live performance shall adhere to all local guidelines and regulations during their set in Malaysia.”

The statement continued, “Despite this, the assurance was ignored, and the band’s actions clearly contravened the agreement with Future Sound Asia. This led to the cancellation of the festival, which, in turn, caused significant losses to Future Sound Asia.”