FILE - Matty Healy of the 1975 performs at the Reading Music Festival, England, on Aug. 28, 2022. The 1975 is being sued after Healy’s kiss of a bandmate in an on-stage protest shut down a music festival in 2023 in Malaysia. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The 1975 is being sued after Matty Healy’s kiss of a bandmate in an on-stage protest shut down a music festival last year in Malaysia.
Healy used profanities as he criticized Malaysia’s stance against homosexuality before kissing bassist Ross MacDonald during the band’s headline performance at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning.
The lawsuit from the festival organizer Future Sound Asia seeks 1.9 million pounds ($2.5 million) for breach of contract and losses. It filed the lawsuit against The 1975 Productions LLP and all four of the band members in the High Court in London on July 23, lawyer David Dinesh Mathew said Thursday.
The government slammed Healy’s conduct, blacklisted the band from the country and canceled the three-day festival. Some in the LGBTQ+ community also criticized the band, saying Healy had disrupted the work of activists pushing for change and had endangered the community.
In its lawsuit, FSA said the band previously performed at the festival in 2016 and had been reminded that performance rules included no swearing, smoking, drinking alcohol, talking about politics and religion, or indecent action such as kissing.
Malaysian authorities initially refused to let the band perform amid reports about Healy’s drug addiction and his subsequent recovery but relented after the band promised Healy would adhere to all guidelines and regulations, FSA said.
The band's fee for its one-hour show was $350,000, of which the bulk was paid, but their conduct was a “clear and deliberate breach†of their contract, FSA said.
Representatives for The 1975 did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit came after attempts to claim compensation from the band last year failed. Mathew said the defendants are expected to file their defense in September.
The band last year after the fiasco in the Malaysian capital.
The ºÃÉ«tv Press. All rights reserved.
Canada is entering a new era of nation-building. From clean-energy corridors and c…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
