The 1975, Matty Healy face $2 million lawsuit for same-sex kiss, LGBTQ protest at Malaysian festival
Image: Reuters
The organizer of Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival has sued the 1975 and each of its members individually after frontman Matty Healy's protest against the country's anti-LGBTQ laws during last July's event.
The festival is demanding £1.9 million ($2.4 million) in damages after the band’s actions led to the event’s cancellation.
In court filings with the U.K. High Court, festival organizers Future Sound Asia allege that the 1975 and their management were aware of the many restrictions they needed to follow to perform.
In court documents submitted to the U.K. High Court, festival organizers Future Sound Asia assert that the 1975 and their management were informed of the various restrictions they needed to follow to perform.
They highlight that the band had performed at the festival in 2016 and were informed of the prohibitions at that time, with multiple reminders given before their performance last summer.
These restrictions included prohibitions on swearing, smoking, drinking on stage, removing clothes, and discussing politics or religion. The band, who were paid $350,000 for their performance, agreed to follow these rules to participate in the festival.
The lawsuit alleges that the night before the festival, the 1975 considered not performing and debated their course of action before ultimately deciding to proceed with the performance.
As a form of protest, they chose to perform “a completely different setlist” and “act in way that were intended to breach the Guidelines” including Healy giving a “provocative speech” and engaging in a “long pretend passionate embrace” with bassist Ross MacDonald “with the intention of causing offence and breaching the regulations and the terms of the agreement”
The band also intended to sneak a bottle of wine onto the stage near the main drum kit to ensure Healy “could have easy access.”
After the kiss, PUSPAL officers instructed the band to halt their performance, leading Healy to become “very aggressive,” allegedly “swearing at them and others” until his managers had to restrain him.