The 1975’s Matty Healy shared how the band’s controversial stage act led to their detainment by Malaysian authorities at a recent concert in Fort Worth, Texas.
During their performance at the Good Vibes Festival on 21 July, the frontman spoke out against the country’s anti-LGBT laws and kissed his bandmate, Ross MacDonald. Because of this, the Malaysian government canceled the remaining part of the event. Healy read a written message from his phone at the show and said:
“Me kissing Ross was not a stunt simply meant to provoke the government. It was an ongoing part of the 1975 stage show, which had been performed many times prior. Similarly, we chose not to change our set that night to play pro-freedom of speech, pro-gay songs.”
Later in his speech, the singer defended the 1975’s pro-LGBTQ stance and criticized those who accused the band of insensitivity. He also pointed out the hypocrisy of calling out performers for being performative on stage. Some critics claimed the band’s actions were a form of cultural insensitivity or even colonialism, which Matty found absurd. He then continued:
“To call the 1975’s performance colonialism is a complete inversion of the word’s meaning.… We have no [power] at all to enforce will on anyone in Malaysia. In fact, it was the Malaysian authorities who briefly imprisoned us.”
Healy argued that some liberals support governments that are intolerant of them. He also said artists should be judged based on the risks they take, not just their popularity. In Malaysia, the strict laws on homosexuality are clear, but in other places, the boundaries are less defined. He went on to criticize the Malaysian government for dismissing Western values:
“It should be expected that if you invite dozens of Western performers into your country, they’ll bring their Western values with them. If the very same things which made you aware of them could land them in jail in your country, you’re not actually inviting them to perform. You’re indirectly commanding them to reflect your country’s policies by omission.”
In Malaysia, LGBTQ+ often experience discrimination, and no safeguards are in place to protect them from hate crimes. Those convicted of engaging in same-sex relationships can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
