Following the government-mandated shutdown of the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia, organizers are seeking legal action against The 1975 and Matty Healy.
Matty Healy took to the stage on July 21 to criticize the organizers for inviting the band to a country that has strict laws against homosexuality. Organizers Future Sound Asia (FSA) have sent a letter of claim to the band to alert them to potential legal action.
“I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy told concert goers. “Unfortunately, you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious,” Healy continues in his on-stage rant. “And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. You are young people and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive.” Healy then kissed drummer Ross MacDonald on stage.
Following the stunt, the festival was cancelled by the Malaysian government’s Ministry of Communications and Digital. Since the cancellation, FSA says they have incurred significant costs in refunding all attendees—Healy’s stunt happened on the first day of the festival. The letter states that The 1975 “intentionally contravened the agreement they had with FSA.
The letter demands the band acknowledge their liability in this cancellation and compensate organizers for the damages incurred. “The band’s failure to do so will result in FSA pursuing legal proceedings in the Courts of England,” the statement reads.
“FSA would like to reiterate their strong disapproval of the band’s behavior during their performance at GVF2023. In particular, lead singer Matthew Timothy Healy’s use of abusive language, equipment damage, and indecent stage behavior not only flagrantly breached local guidelines and Malaysian laws, but also tarnished the reputation of the 10-year-old festival.”
“The band’s actions intentionally contravened the agreement they had with FSA for their performance at GVF2023. This breach led to the festival’s cancellation, resulting in significant losses for FSA and negatively impacting local artists and businesses that depended on the festival’s success—affecting the livelihoods of many Malaysians.”
“FSA deeply values the trust that fans and regulatory authorities have placed in them over the years. The organization remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering vibrant live music experiences in Malaysia, ensuring full compliance with local laws and regulations.”