The 1975 scraps Asian concerts due to controversy over same-sex kiss

British pop rock band The 1975 has canceled its upcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei, following a controversy surrounding lead singer Matty Healy. The Malaysian government cut short a music festival after Healy criticized the country’s anti-gay laws and kissed a male bandmate during a performance.

The 1975 was scheduled to perform at We The Fest, Indonesia’s annual summer music festival, on Sunday night as part of their 2023 Asia tour. However, the band announced on social media that the shows in Jakarta and Taipei would no longer be going ahead due to the current circumstances.

The incident occurred during the band’s set at the Good Vibes Festival, where Healy used profanity in his speech criticizing the Malaysian government’s stance on homosexuality before kissing bass player Ross MacDonald. The footage of the incident was widely circulated on social media and received backlash in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil condemned Healy’s conduct and stated that homosexuality is a crime in the country, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. After a meeting with festival organizers, Fahmi announced the cancellation of the festival, stating that there would be no compromise with any party that challenges or violates Malaysian laws.

The agency responsible for approving performances by foreign artists expressed disappointment with The 1975’s conduct, calling it an insult and disrespecting the laws of the country. As a result, the band will be blacklisted from performing in Malaysia.

This is not the first time Healy has used the stage to advocate for LGBTQ rights. In 2019, he kissed a male fan during a concert in the United Arab Emirates, where homosexual acts are also outlawed.

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The cancellation of The 1975’s shows in Jakarta and Taipei highlights the tension between artists’ freedom of expression and the laws and cultural norms of different countries. It also raises important discussions about LGBTQ rights and the challenges faced by artists in advocating for those rights in countries where they are not supported.

The incident has generated significant media attention and sparked conversations about the responsibility of artists and the consequences they may face for expressing their views on stage.