The controversial frontman of the 1975, Matty Healy was banned from Malaysia after he kissed bassist Ross MacDonald onstage. The nation has several anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and Healy and MacDonald sought to protest them. The indie rock band performed at Good Vibes festival in Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur, when the kiss cut the set short. Healy then told the crowd, “I made a mistake when we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it. I don’t see the f—ing point, right? I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and telling us who we can have sex with.”
The 1975 frontman went on to say, “And I’m sorry if that offends you and you’re religious, but your government are a bunch of f—ing… and I don’t care anymore. If you push I’m gonna push back. I’m not in the f—ing mood. I’m not in the f—ing mood anymore.” The clip from the show reached viral heights, resulting in the band’s ban from the nation. In Malaysia, homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment.
The 1975 has been banned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after Matty Healy and bandmate Ross MacDonald kissed on-stage during their set at Good Vibes Festival.
Before the kiss, Healy gave a speech on his disappointment in the country’s discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community. pic.twitter.com/XcHuPHiYr5
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 21, 2023
As a result of the kiss, the set was cut short.
The 1975 has been banned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after Matty Healy gave a speech calling out the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald onstage:
“Alright we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later” pic.twitter.com/szflAj2iFT
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 21, 2023
The Healy History
Matty Healy has long been an outspoken ally of the LGBTQ+ community. However, his political views recently came under scrutiny amid his rumored relationship with Taylor Swift. Shortly prior to the rumors of the pair of powerful musicians’ alleged relationship, Healy appeared on “The Adam Friedland Show” and insulted rapper Ice Spice, calling her a “chubby Chinese woman.” Spice is Nigerian and Dominican. Following the rumored split between Swift and Healy, Spice went on to collaborate with Swift on a “Karma” remix.
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Outside of the Ice Spice controversy, Healy once also joked that he consumed adult films that “brutalized” Black women, and accused Harry Styles of queerbaiting. While Healy has frequently made his left-leaning beliefs clear, his occasional offensive behavior is typically hidden under the guise of “satire” or his alter-ego onstage character Truman Black.
Healy eventually apologized to Spice live onstage, but his many controversies have long continued to loom over the band. Today’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights appeared to cast the troubled singer in a more positive light than in recent months.
The 1975 won my heart just now!
— Ta3hyung-Tae Crew (@Ta3hyungSK) July 21, 2023
This is why I Stan Matty Healy
— Lucia (@LuciaLovelyyy) July 21, 2023
Healy is yet to comment further on the ban from Malaysia. The band is currently still on their world tour, “At Their Very Best.” The band has been on tour throughout Asia since May, and the format of the show tackles themes of toxic masculinity in music and addiction. The band’s demonstration proved their stance that homophobia is never funny, even in a foreign language.
