1975 Sued $2.4M by Malaysian Festival Organizers

The British band The 1975 is being sued by Good Vibes Festival organizers, Future Sound Asia (FSA), for $2.4 million (£1.9 million) after the festival was shut down following the band's controversial performance in July 2023. During the performance, frontman Matty Healy criticized Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ laws, delivered a profanity-laden speech, and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald on stage, actions that breached the festival's strict guidelines. The FSA alleges that The 1975 had prior knowledge of the performance restrictions, which included bans on political statements, swearing, and same-sex acts, and had agreed to comply. Despite this, the band reportedly decided to conduct the protest, leading to the immediate cancellation of the festival by Malaysian authorities. The lawsuit claims the band's actions were intentional and in direct violation of the agreed-upon terms, resulting in significant financial losses.