Malaysia cancels rest of music festival over same sex kiss from The 1975
Jenny Goldsberry
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Malaysia cut a music festival short as a result of two male band mates of The 1975 sharing a kiss Friday.
The kiss was meant as a protest of the country’s laws against homosexuality and was preceded by a speech from lead singer Matty Healy bashing the laws. Healy, along with bass player Ross MacDonald, and their bandmates have been subsequently banned from the country for their conduct. Since The 1975’s performance came on the first day of the three-day Good Vibes festival, two days’ worth of performances were also canceled.
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“We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule of Good Vibes Festival 2023 (GVF2023), planned for today and tomorrow has been cancelled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band The 1975,” the festival wrote in a statement. “This decision adheres to the immediate cancellation directive issued at 1:20 PM, 22 July 2023, by the Ministry of Communications and Digital. The Ministry has underlined its unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule, or contravene Malaysian laws.”
The festival apologized to its ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners. There will be refunds made, but it remains to be seen how or when they will be made.
“There will be no compromise with any party that challenges, belittles or violates Malaysian laws,” Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement on Facebook.
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Healy has been known to take similar stances in previous performances, kissing a male concertgoer in the United Arab Emirates. Authorities attempted to arrest him at the time, but he was off to the next city in Japan to perform before he could be apprehended.
In total, 64 countries have laws against homosexual acts, with the majority coming out of Africa and the Middle East. In Asia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea have joined Malaysia in criminalizing sexuality.