Malaysia festival demands $2.7 million in damages over Matty Healy gay kiss

The organisers behind Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival are suing British band The 1975 for $2.7 million after frontman Matt Healy kissed bandmate Ross MacDonald onstage.

The music festival, held in Kuala Lumpur, was cancelled after Healy kissed bassist MacDonald in front of a huge crowd on 21 July.

Gay sex is criminalised in Malaysia and punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while LGBTQ+ people face regular discrimination and receive no protection against hate crimes. 

Due to Healy’s same-sex kiss, a lawyer for the festival organisers has said that Good Vibes Festival is seeking $2.7 million in damages from the British indie-rock band. 

*Breach of contract*

“I can confirm that my firm issued a seven-day letter of claim to the UK band 1975 demanding for RM12.3 million [$2.68 million] in damages on behalf of Future Sound Asia (FSA),” David Dinesh Mathew, a lawyer for event organiser FSA said in a statement on Friday (11 August) .

David said the claim filed on Monday (7 August) against the band was “essentially for breach of contract”, as Healy’s representative had allegedly signed an assurance that the band would “adhere to all local guidelines and regulations” in their set. 

The 1975 have until Monday 14 August 2023 to respond to the legal action. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)

David added that the cancellation of the festival following the uproar “had repercussions on local artists and small businesses”.

The band have until Monday 14 August to respond to the letter.

Frontman Healy was accused of “white saviourism” and “performative activism” for using his headline slot to speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Malaysia.

[CITE: https://www.tiktok.com/@akidnamedrufus/video/7258635116413521195]

@akidnamedrufus