The Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia has taken a dramatic turn. Festival organizer Future Sounds Asia (FSA) is suing British band The 1975 and its individual members for a whopping RM11.25 million (US$2.6 million) following a controversial performance by lead singer Matty Healy in July 2023.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on the first night of the festival. Healy, known for his outspoken nature, criticized Malaysia’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights and then surprised the audience with a kiss on stage with his male bandmate.
This act, along with alleged breaches of performance guidelines, led to the festival being shut down before its scheduled conclusion.
According to FSA, The 1975 was well aware of Malaysia’s strict performance regulations. These restrictions include bans on swearing, smoking, drinking alcohol, and making political or religious statements.
The lawsuit emphasizes that the band had already performed at the festival in 2016, making them familiar with the rules.
FSA claims The 1975 deliberately flouted these guidelines. The filing details how the band played an unauthorized setlist and allegedly smuggled alcohol onstage.
The situation reportedly escalated when government officials arrived to stop the performance, with Healy accused of behaving aggressively towards them.
Adding another layer to the story, the lawsuit reveals that Malaysian authorities initially rejected The 1975’s application due to past reports about Healy’s drug use. However, the band reportedly secured approval after promising to comply with all regulations.
FSA argues that their actions during the festival constituted a clear breach of this agreement.
The lawsuit paints a picture of a band disregarding the rules and a festival organizer left scrambling to pick up the pieces.
With the remaining two days of the event cancelled, FSA is seeking significant financial compensation for the lost revenue and the damage to their reputation.
As of today, The 1975 has yet to respond to the lawsuit, leaving fans and music lovers to wait for the next chapter in this unfolding drama.
Image—Sky News
