The 1975 cancel gigs following Malaysian LGBT law row 

The 1975 have cancelled upcoming gigs in Indonesia and Taiwan after the band's Malaysia appearance was halted, following frontman Matty Healy denouncing the country’s anti-LGBT laws on stage on Friday. 

According to reports, Healy said: “I don’t see the … point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with. Unfortunately you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m … furious. And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. Because you’re young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool.”

Healy followed up his speech by kissing bass player Ross MacDonald on stage at Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes Festival, before the band was then banned from playing in the country.

The frontman added: “All right, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later.”

Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.

Following the incident, Good Vibes Festival cancelled its remaining line-up.

Organisers of the festival said in a statement: “We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule of Good Vibes Festival 2023[…] has been cancelled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band The 1975.

“This decision adheres to the immediate cancellation directive issued at 2:20pm, 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.”

We The Fest in Jakarta, Indonesia, where the 1975 were due to play over the weekend, subsequently released a statement which said: “The 1975 regret to announce that their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei will no longer be going ahead as planned.

“The band never take the decision to cancel a show lightly and had been eagerly looking forward to playing for fans in Jakarta and Taipei but unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows.”