The 1975 threatened with legal action by Malaysian festival organizers
Future Sounds Asia are demanding the band “compensate for damages incurred” following Matty Healy’s callout of Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Future Sounds Asia, the organizers of the Good Vibes music festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are preparing to take legal action against the 1975, Rolling Stone reports. During their set last month, Matty Healy called out the country's discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ laws and kissed bassist Ross McDonald. A few songs later, the band's sound was cut off and the Malaysian government cancelled the rest of the three-day event.
According to a press statement, FSA have now sent a Letter of Claim “demanding that the Band acknowledge their liability and compensate FSA for damages incurred. They cite violations of local guidelines and Malaysian laws including "use of abusive language, equipment damage, and indecent stage behavior."
The 1975 are also facing a potential class action lawsuit from local Malaysian musicians who went unpaid due to the festival's cancellation. They're also seeking compensation for lost earnings. The FADER has contacted representatives for the band for comment.