Matty Healy: The 1975 being sued for £1.9M over same-sex kiss in Malaysian Festival

Loose Women star Denise Welch and Auf Weidersehen star Tim Healy have two sons - Matty Healy and Louis Healy. Their first-born Matty Healy is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the band The 1975.

The 34-year-old is famous for being the front man of the band and equally renowned for his bold statements, on-stage performance antics and making headlines every now and then.

According to People Magazine, having cigarettes and a bottle of Malbec on stage is a signature for Healy. During his Madison Square Garden show in November 2022, Healy went viral for eating bites from a slab of raw steak after doing a round of shirtless pushups on stage while talking about toxic masculinity. Another one of his famous acts on stage includes snogging on stage - something which has now gotten him into trouble.

Matty Healy sued for kissing on-stage during his show in Malaysia in 2023

Healy’s band performed at Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur inJuly 2023. Healy along with his other band members Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald and George Daniel headlined the first day of the three-day festival that led to the festival's closure for the remaining two days.

Variety reports, organisers of the festival - Future Sound Asia - are suing the British rock band as Healy violated prohibitions by sharing a same-sex kiss while performing on stage as an act of protest against the country's anti-LGBTQ laws.

The festival is seeking about £1.9 million ($2.4 million). Future Sound Asia has filed a case in the UK High Court claiming that the band and their management team deliberately violated the country’s laws despite agreeing to abide by them. The 1975 had performed in Malaysia in 2016 and are understood to be aware of the country’s law. Not only did Healy disobey the same-sex kiss law but the band also smuggled a bottle of wine onto the stage and hid it behind the drum kit for Healy to have ‘easy access.’

The 1975 reportedly agreed to ahdere to local regulations

In Malaysia, the performance rules prohibit smoking, drinking, taking off clothes or swearing on stage as well as talking about politics or religion. The 1975 reportedly got $350,000 to perform and agreed to abide by these laws. The court documents state that Malaysia’s Central Agency initially rejected the band’s application to perform at the festival due to Healy’s antics but gave in to the band’s appeal as they promised to adhere to ‘all local guidelines and regulations.’

The lawsuit adds that the night before the festival, the band decided to not perform at the festival. They eventually changed their mind only to contravene the laws which included making a ‘provocative speech’ and Healy kissing his bandmate Ross MacDonald.

After Healy’s performance, the organisers’ licence was revoked the next day and the remaining two days of the festival were cancelled which resulted in a hefty loss for them.

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Sources Used

People Magazine: All About The 1975's Matty Healy, the Musician Sparking Romance Rumors with Taylor Swift

Variety: The 1975 Sued by Malaysian Festival for $2.4 Million After Matty Healy’s Gay Kiss Controversy (EXCLUSIVE)

People Magazine: All About Matty Healy's Parents, Actors Tim Healy and Denise Welch