A class action lawsuit is being readied against British indie rock band The 1975 following the cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. The festival was abruptly cut short due to a controversial onstage moment involving frontman Matty Healy and bassist Ross Macdonald – a kiss which was seen as a violation of Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ laws.
The lawsuit, which is being readied by Malaysian law firm Thomas Philip, will aim to seek damages for the losses suffered by Malaysian artists and vendors as a result of the incident. Five artists and five vendors are currently involved in the class action suit, which is being handled pro bono, and it is expected that more will join in the coming weeks.
The controversy has been met with criticism by both Malaysian LGBTQ+ activists, who described the kiss as “performative activism”, and members of the Malaysian live music industry, who fear the incident will have a chilling effect on the industry and make it more difficult for international acts to perform in the country.
The incident has also had a financial impact, with Good Vibes Festival organiser Future Sound Asia stating that it has suffered a “catastrophic financial blow”. International artists booked for the festival were paid in full prior to the event, but payment terms for local artists differ and many had yet to receive payment due to the cancellation. 28 food vendors who had already purchased stock for the festival, at an estimated RM15,000 (£2,500), have also been affected.
In response to the incident, Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has called for a re-examination of the existing processes of the government agency responsible for approving filming and performance applications by foreign artists. MyCreativeVentures, an investment arm of Malaysia’s government to support the country’s creative industry, has also begun to look into assisting local artists and food vendors.
The 1975 have yet to issue an official statement on the incident and its aftermath, though a source close to the band said that the band wanted to stand up for their LGBTQ+ fans and community. Healy has since referred to the incident on his Instagram stories, at one point writing “not as easy as it looks” in response to the festival’s statement.
The class action lawsuit is expected to be filed in Malaysia within the next 7-14 days, with Future Sound Asia offering to assist in any way needed. The firm has yet to disclose the amount of damages the lawsuit will seek.
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