The 1975 is Being Sued Millions For Malaysian Festival Antics

Last July, The 1975 performed at Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival. While on stage, frontman Matty Healy kissed a male member of his band in protest of Malaysia’s stringent anti-LGBTQ laws, which also went against the festival’s rules. Now, the festival’s parent company, Future Sound Asia, has filed a lawsuit against all members of The 1975 for the antics.

Festival organizers filed the lawsuit in U.K. High Court, seeking $2.4 million. Previously, last August, the festival sent a letter to the band demanding $2 million in damages, per a report from Variety, but now they’ve officially sued. The lawsuit claims that the band and their management were aware of the laws and prohibitions in the country and at the festival, and were repeatedly reminded. Additionally, it cites The 1975’s previous performance at the festival in 2016.

According to a report from Variety, some of the restrictions included swearing, smoking and drinking, taking off clothes, and talking about politics or religion on stage. The Malaysia Central Agency for the Application for Foreign Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (PUSPAL) also banned “kissing, kissing a member of the audience or carrying out such actions among themselves,” according to the report.

[RELATED: The Case for The 1975’s Matty Healy, Pop Music’s Most Controversial Frontman]

Malaysian Festival Initially Rejected The 1975’s Application to Perform Last Summer

Initially, the festival organizers rejected the band’s application to perform last July. They cited a 2018 article about Matty Healy’s drug addiction—even though he has since been in recovery. The band appealed, essentially promising Healy would be on his best behavior and adhere to the local laws.

However, the lawsuit goes on to state that the band evidently changed their minds about performing, deciding to back out. They then changed their minds again and took the stage. The lawsuit states that instead of playing the festival as planned, the band played “a completely different setlist” and “act[ed] in way that [was] intended to breach the Guidelines” in protest. Healy gave a “provocative speech” and engaged in a “long pretend passionate embrace” with bassist Ross MacDonald.

According to the lawsuit, per a report from Variety, this was done “with the intention of causing offence and breaching the regulations and the terms of the agreement.”

Healy also allegedly engaged in other rule-breaking behavior, such as smoking, drinking, swearing, and spitting toward the audience. The festival and PUSPAL officers decided to shut down the band’s set and escort them from the stage. Allegedly, Healy became “very aggressive” toward the officers.

Festival organizers had their licenses revoked after the performance and the last two days of the festival were canceled. The lawsuit claims that the band and management were aware they had breached Malaysian law, and hurried to leave the country. However, Matty Healy claimed he was “briefly imprisoned” in Malaysia following the protest.

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