The 1975 frontman Matty Healy delivers on stage speech attacking Malaysia's anti LGBT+ laws

The 1975 frontman Matty Healy delivered a speech attacking Malaysia’s anti-LGBT+ laws during a festival performance in the country on Friday night (21 July).

As the band performed at the Good Vibes Festival, Healy addressed the audience in a profanity-laden speech before kissing bass player Ross MacDonald.

The festival, due to continue over Saturday and Sunday, has since been cancelled by organisers.
Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.

“I don’t see the f****** point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy said.

The Malaysian government has also banned The 1975 from ever performing in the country again.

Watch more here at Independent TV

About The Independent:
Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded.

Connect with The Independent:

[dustinrocks]

As a Malaysian, here's an FYI on the current ongoings with the situation. Matt and his band, the 1975, agreed with the organizers to attend despite the local organizers having clearly stated our cultural sensitivities. The organizers and 1975 came to an agreement, where the band acknowledged and agreed to be a part of.

Matt and his band then came to perform on the first day, and not long after, went on a drunken rampage on stage with profanity, and he strongly criticised the Malaysian government and the government's decision to abide by religious and cultural sensitivities on stage. And he kissed his band male member on stage as a sign of defiance.

The repercussions were that, the local government who had no issues with their presence here, and had not imposed any other sudden unjust regulations, or restrictions whatsoever to their performance as long as they abided by our laws - had to retaliate to Matt's actions by shutting down the 3-day festival to take a firm stand. Many were victims. The fans, other festival goers who were supposed to be there for the full 3 days, the organisers themselves and especially the food vendors all lost a great deal of money from this occurrence.

Matt and his band on the other hand, were on a flight out of Malaysia the next morning at 3am to Indonesia for their next performance Scott free from any repercussions, accountability and consequences. worse yet, they also took the proceeds and profits from the festival's ticket sales and other profit cuts. They just left the scene, leaving behind the mess.

Our gripe here is, the band knew of Malaysia's stance on the matter, they were given every opportunity to turn down the lineup, but they didn't. They agreed to come, and took the money, despite having full prior knowledge that the local laws and culture goes against their personal values. Why didn't they just say no from the start instead of raising controversy, criticising the government and causing the 3 day festival to be cancelled?

None of the band's songs or performances required the full expression of any of their personal values. It wasn't part of their choreography. They could have just performed like they usually do, like musicians do and that would be it.

[Xiscolim]

Freedom without discipline surely behaves like an animal

[cyrenechua]

YALL he spat, smoked & smashed a drone on the stage. Do your research. Thats rude & unnecessary.
Who acts like this on stage??

[marujeman]

Is it really that hard to come to a country and respect its law?

[deeuk]

Sorry, but who is 1975? 😂 Just heard about them today.

[angieng]

1) He came on stage looking drunk. At certain points was holding a bottle.
What would your boss say if you showed up to work, for a presentation to client, drunk

2) He uttered the F word on stage. I facepalm & cringed cos swearing is not allowed on stage in public in Malaysia

3) He critized the Malaysia government for anti LGBT laws. And of course:

4) Kisses another male on stage in public. It would have been the same if it was a man- woman kiss.

If this happened in our neighbour Singapore(which is non Muslim country) they would have arrested Healy for disorderly conduct.

In the end the ones who suffer cancellation of whole Festival :
1) Fans/customers who bought tickets
2) Vendors
3) Other artists for the festival some of whom flew in from other countries
4) Organizer

5) LGBT groups as the far right will view them more negatively

6) Make Current moderate government look far. Far right(Msians will know which party this is) will say its the government who allowed them in the 1st place & therefore bad influence.

7) Non muslim Msians cos the far right will say 'See, kafir behave immoral, we should not allow them

8) Any future foreign bands/artists will be triple scrutinized. Coldplay concert is next to come.

Btw, I am non muslim Msian so know fully well what the repercussions are to us.

P/S : Just read in the news, Indonesia has banned 1975 (as expected). Indonesia was supposed to be their next venue after Malaysia

[TheHamidsindi]

This is what alcohol does :) brings out who you really are.

[shahirah]

Never knew 1975 exist until this controversie.. It's funny how respect and profesionalism is not common sense anymore..

[Amg]

He even kick and smash the drone. And spiting to the fan. Who is this man ? Never heard of him.

[Goldmember]

Just play the music jackazz. They didn’t pay to hear you talk about this.

[lucagunetti]

As an expat from Italy living here in Malaysia, I feel.ashamed by that dude 's behavior. I fell in love with Malaysia and its people from day one, and individuals like that cast a shadow on everyone else who is not alligned with their mentality. Rule n.1 when entering a country: respect that country's law and tradition. Its not rocket science, this band behavior is simply disgusting and vomitous.

[neymarjr_.]

he thought everyone would side with him even the fans. but no, lol

[Reluctant.Idealist]

He is so incredibly self-involved. He has no idea how his actions have hurt so many people— the event organizers are baring the brunt of his egotistical, arrogant speech about civil liberties.

I say this as someone who completely supports the LGBT+ community.

You CANNOT sign contracts, and go to another country and culture and expect them to support a rebellious stance that the government is extremely strict with.

Like cowards, the 1975 left in the middle of the night, and left everyone else to pick up the pieces. Oh yes, he’s so strong for having such moral high-ground, that he cannot even face the consequences with everyone else.

What an entitled, egocentric idiot. Great job standing up for people, only to have no accountability for your actions.

If you don’t support something, be more careful what contracts you sign and be aware of how your actions affect others.

Edit: What does he think he’s doing? Starting a revolution? Really? This isn’t even your country, and he didn’t even take accountability. If standing up for his beliefs meant this much to him, he should have stayed and faced the consequences.

[accalialia]

Malaysia is a great country with amazing people. im an American who has been in Malaysia for years, studying here. its very safe and the people are friendly. don't use that friendliness to push the woke agendas of the West on them. people here already look at us funny because we're the main endorsers of it.

[armitageshanks]

People need to realize that some countries, like Malaysia, ain't anti-homo for the sake of being anti-homo. They take that stance for religious reasons. Just give some basic respect

[MikaHolic_Channel_OFFICIAL]

im actually surprised he wasn't arrested right there and then, considering how strict Malaysia is on their laws regarding lgbt+ and pda stuff. he literally got away with insulting their laws and customs. well he ain't coming back there anyways

[alfie]

I apologise on behalf of normal English men. We are not all this disrespectful to other's laws and cultrures

[nevaehrinjani]

The most "open minded" band ever, this band was cancelled in Jakarta, Indonesia too 😁😁😁

[finhas]

That ain't activism, that stupidity, insensitive and disrespectful, not to the government, but to the people.

[syawalsalim]

To the gal who shouted "let's go!!", PLS GROW A BRAIN. Don't be influenced by this ideology and no need to show support blindly.