The 1975 are being sued over a kiss between singer Matty Healy and another band member during a show in Malaysia that ended a music festival last year.
Healy had used profanity while criticising Malaysia’s stance against homosexuality before kissing bassist Ross MacDonald during the band’s performance at the Good Vibes festival in Kuala Lumpur. Homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning.
The lawsuit filed by the organizer of the Future Sound Asia (FSA) festival is seeking 1.9 million pounds (C$3.4 million) for breach of contract and losses. The organization filed the lawsuit against The 1975 Productions LLP and the four band members in London’s High Court on July 23, lawyer David Dinesh Mathew said Thursday.
The government criticized Healy’s conduct, blacklisting the group from the country and canceling the three-day festival. Some members of the LGBTQ+ community also criticized the group, saying Healy had disrupted the work of campaigners for change and put the community at risk.
In its lawsuit, Future Sound Asia said the band had previously performed at the festival in 2016 and had been reminded that performance rules included no swearing, smoking, drinking alcohol, talking about politics and religion, or indecent actions such as kissing.
Malaysian authorities had initially refused to let the band perform, citing reports of Healy’s drug addiction and subsequent recovery, according to FSA. They eventually relented after the band promised that Healy would abide by all guidelines and regulations, it added.
The band’s fee for its hour-long concert was US$350,000 (more than C$485,000), most of which was paid, but their conduct constitutes a “clear and willful breach” of their contract, FSA says.
Representatives for The 1975 did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit comes after the group’s attempts to seek compensation failed last year. David Dinesh Mathew said the defendants are expected to file their defence in September.
The band cancelled concerts in Taiwan and Indonesia last year after the fiasco in the Malaysian capital.