British band The 1975 were ordered to pay 12.3 million Malaysian Ringgit (Rm) (approximately 2.3 million Euros) compensation for their last concert at the Malaysian music festival Good Vibes. The group will have until August 14 to pay their fees or face potential lawsuits. The reason for the hefty fine stems from the band’s controversial performance on July 21 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The performance was interrupted after the band’s lead singer, Matty Healy, criticized the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws on stage. Soon after, he kissed bassist Ross MacDonald. Healy said to the public: “I don’t understand the point of inviting 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with”. then pointing to his groin. “And that’s not fair to you because you’re not representative of your government. Because you’re young and I’m sure most of you are gay and progressive and cool,” he shouted from the stage.
It caused a fuss in the UK and Malaysia, where the Ministry of Performance, Communications and Digital decided to cancel the remaining two days of the festival. A decision that seriously injured the festival organizers. The group later canceled their planned performances in Indonesia and Taiwan. A decision the group has not commented on. While homosexuality is not a crime in Indonesia, some of the opposition intends to criminalize the LGBT+ community, while Taiwan is one of the most developed countries in Asia regarding gay rights and has also legalized same-sex marriage. .
At the beginning of August, Future Sound Asia (FSA), the organizer of the Good Vibes Festival, decided to seek compensation from The 1975. Then the amount of compensation claimed appeared: equal to 2.3 million euros. In a subsequent statement to Malay Mail, the festival organization’s legal counsel, David Mathew, said he sent the payment notice with a 7-day deadline on August 7. This means the group will have until August 14 to pay damages or legal action will be taken against them.
The lawyer said the letter of complaint from the FSA was based on a breach of contract signed by lead singer Matty Healy. “Healy’s representative categorically gave written assurances before the show,” the lawyer assured, assuring that he and The 1975 live performance “will comply with all local guidelines and regulations” during the show on their Malaysian sets. According to the consultant, insurance would be ignored. “The group’s actions were also clearly in violation of their contract with the FSA, which led to the cancellation of the festival and inflicted significant losses on the FSA,” the lawyer said.
Just last month, right after the concert, the Malaysian LGBTQ+ community reacted badly to the group’s performance, denouncing Healy’s words and kiss. From their point of view, the singer’s actions could have worsened the lives of the LGBTQ+ community in the country.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
