Organisers of Good Vibes Competition have introduced that they are going to be taking authorized motion in opposition to The 1975, following the band utilizing their set to criticise Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines.
The second came about in the course of the band’s headlining set on July 21 – the primary day of the three-day competition – when frontman Matty Healy, consuming on stage, smashed a festival-operated drone and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald in entrance of the group.
The set was lower quick and the subsequent day, the rest of the three-day competition was later cancelled by the authorities and each Healy and the band had been banned from performing within the nation.
Now, it has been confirmed that the organisers behind the competition – Future Sound Asia – are pursuing authorized motion in opposition to them, and have despatched a Letter Of Declare to the British indie band.
In line with the press launch, the declare calls for that The 1975 acknowledge their legal responsibility and compensate Future Sound Asia (FSA) for the damages incurred. It additionally states that if the band fail to take action, the organisers will pursue authorized proceedings within the Courts of England.
“FSA would like to reiterate their strong disapproval of the Band’s behaviour during their performance at GVF2023,” it reads. “In particular, lead singer Matthew Timothy Healy’s use of abusive language, equipment damage, and indecent stage behaviour not only flagrantly breached local guidelines and Malaysian laws but also tarnished the reputation of the 10-year-old festival.”
Alongside stating that the on-stage show “tarnished” the competition’s repute, the Letter of Declare additionally states that their actions “intentionally contravened the agreement they had with FSA” and immediately led to the 2023 instalment of the competition being cancelled.
This, it provides, led to “significant financial losses for FSA and negatively impact[ed] local artists and businesses that depended on the festival’s success – affecting the livelihoods of many Malaysians.”
Representatives for The 1975 have advised NME that they haven’t any remark right now.
Following their actions on the headline set final month, the Malaysian LGBTQ+ neighborhood have condemned Healy, suggesting Healy’s actions would make life for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood within the nation worse.
The week after the competition, Muse turned the primary worldwide act to carry out in Kuala Lumpur for the reason that ordeal, and it was revealed that the band eliminated a tune from their setlist to raised go well with the nation’s efficiency pointers. As a substitute of enjoying ‘We Are Fucking Fucked’, the band as a substitute broke out a rendition of ‘Resistance’.
Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 has additionally weighed in on the state of affairs and stated he won’t go to Malaysia after sharing a kiss with Healy whereas at Lollapalooza in Chicago.
The 1975 CREDIT: Josh Brasted / FilmMagic
He took to Instagram to share a screengrab of him and Matty Healy embracing mid-set. “I guess myself ‘AND’ The 1975 won’t be going to Malaysia – just a couple of dudes kissing during their phenomenal set at Lollapalooza,” he wrote.
Elsewhere at Lollapalooza, The 1975 appeared to poked enjoyable on the Malaysia controversy earlier than performing ‘It’s Not Residing If It’s Not With You’.
The second got here in the course of the a part of their set the place Healy begins to say one thing controversial, earlier than the band abruptly lower him off with the start riff of the tune. Whereas performing the tune throughout their set at this yr’s Lollapalooza, Healy stated: “You want my travel tip? Don’t go to…” earlier than getting lower off by the beginning of the observe.