Festival cancelled after 1975's Matty Healy kisses band member and makes speech about Malaysia's LGBT ban
22 July 2023, 16:32 | Updated: 22 July 2023, 16:58
A music festival in Malaysia was cancelled after The 1975 singer Matty Healy lambasted the country's ban on homosexuality and kissed a band member.
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The Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur was handed an "immediate cancellation directive" by the Malaysian government.
Healy's band has also been banned from performing in Malaysia in future.
The festival said in a statement after Healy's speech and kiss on Friday night: “We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule for Good Vibes Festival (GVF2023), planned for today and tomorrow has been cancelled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matt Healy from the band The 1975.”
“The ministry has underlined its unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule or contravene Malaysian laws."
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It added: “We sincerely apologise to all of our ticket holders, vendors, sponsors and partners.”
Healy had said the band would "pull out" of their show in protest at the country's government "telling us who we can have sex with".
He added: “Unfortunately you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m f****** furious and that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government because you are young people.
"And I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool.”
He then kissed guitarist Ross MacDonald before leaving the stage for a few minutes.
Upon returning, he said: “Alright, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later.”
The band has not commented on the incident.
