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Matty Healy: Malaysia festival cancelled after The 1975 singer attacks anti-LGBT law (www.bbc.com)

submitted 11 months ago by little_cow@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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A festival in Malaysia has been cancelled after British singer Matty Healy attacked the country's anti-LGBT laws.

During the performance by his band The 1975 at the Good Vibes Festival, Healy addressed the audience in a profanity-laden speech before kissing bass player Ross MacDonald.

The band then ended their set, claiming officials ordered them off stage.

Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.

The band were headlining the Good Vibes Festival in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

On Saturday the festival's organisers said the remaining schedule for the festival had been cancelled following the controversy.

A statement said the decision came after an "immediate cancellation directive" from Malaysia's Ministry of Communications and Digital, as part of its "unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule or contravene Malaysian laws.

In footage shared online, Healy could be seen telling the crowd that the band's decision to appear in Malaysia had been a "mistake".

"When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it," Healy said. "I don't see the [expletive] point, right, I do not see the point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.

"Unfortunately you don't get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I'm [expletive] furious," the frontman continued. "And that's not fair on you, because you're not representative of your government. Because you're young people, and I'm sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool."

Healy and MacDonald then kissed as the band played the song I Like America & America Likes Me.

Soon after - just 30 minutes into the set - Healy and the band walked off stage, with the singer telling the audience: "Alright, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later."

A source close to the 1975 confirmed the incident to the BBC.

"Matty has a long-time record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and the band wanted to stand up for their LGBTQ+ fans and community," the source said on Friday night.

In an initial statement to local media on Friday, festival organisers said the band's set was stopped due to "non-compliance with local performance guidelines". But at that stage they said the festival would continue as scheduled for the rest of the weekend.

Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil hit out at the band's performance on Twitter, calling it "very disrespectful". He added that he had contacted festival organisers and asked them to provide a full report.

Healy has previously used appearances on stage to highlight anti-LGBT laws.

In 2019 he invited a male fan on stage during a gig in Dubai to hug him, before sharing a quick kiss. The incident attracted criticism in the country, where homosexuality is punishable by 10 years imprisonment.

Posting on Twitter after the show, Healy said: "Thank you Dubai you were so amazing. I don't think we'll be allowed back due to my 'behaviour' but know that I love you and I wouldn't have done anything differently given the chance again."

Other performers at the Good Vibes Festival include the Strokes, Dermot Kennedy and Ty Dollar $ign.

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[-] secondaccountlemmy@lemmy.world 43 points 11 months ago

Hey.. he got bad rep during the time he dated Taylor Swift but this was pretty cool.

Props to him and being consistent about it.

[-] rauldojenkins@lemmy.world 50 points 11 months ago

Or he got caught saying some racist shit and then doubled down on it… not a cool guy.

[-] BNE@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 11 months ago

"I don't think it's racist to say~"

mic cut, riff immediately starts, front man left angrily mouthing words to bandmates

[-] Ginjutsu@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

What did he say?

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[-] HunterBidensLapDog@infosec.pub 40 points 11 months ago

Thanks to The 1975 for showing the world visiting Malaysia is like visiting Taliban Afghanistan. Bye bye tourist dollars.

[-] tabular@lemmy.world 32 points 11 months ago

Every party should include ridicule of ridiculous Malaysian laws.

[-] braiseit420@lemmy.ca 24 points 11 months ago

As an aside, here's Doug Stanhope's experience with insulting Thai royalty.

Doug Stanhope's $12,000 Asian Booboo

[-] PipedLinkBot@feddit.rocks 10 points 11 months ago

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Thanks for that. Stanhope is always amusing.

[-] azims@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago

The act of opposite sexes kissing on stage in this country is still breaking the law.

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 17 points 11 months ago

The law contravenes basic human rights, so fuck the law.

[-] MercuryUprising@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

"Somebody told me to do it, so I obeyed."

If anyone was wondering how totalitarian come to power, this is how.

[-] Methylman@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

I've always had the opinion that anyone who can't handle those being free to love who they want must have repressed feelings - I don't see why that should apply any different depending on what country you live or whether you grew up in a society where the first repressed person made the original rule

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[-] feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

LOT OF ANGER IN HERE GUYS

[-] gmtom@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

What a legend.

Fuck the Malaysian government and fuck any of the cowardly Malaysians that dont stand up for the rights of the other people. Maybe if enough of their pointless entertainment gets cancelled then the apathetic masses will start to give a shit.

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this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2023

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