Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against The 1975 Over Controversial Kiss at Malaysian Festival.

A London judge ruled on Monday that members of the British band The 1975 are not personally responsible for the financial losses incurred by the cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia. The festival’s organizer, Future Sound Asia, had sought £1.9 million ($2.4 million) in damages after the band’s lead singer, Matty Healy, kissed bassist Ross MacDonald on stage during their performance in Kuala Lumpur in July 2023.

The kiss, which occurred after Healy made a statement against Malaysia’s anti-homosexuality laws, sparked backlash in the mainly Muslim country. In Malaysia, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. LGBTQ+ organizations also expressed concern, arguing that the band’s actions could put the community at risk and hinder activists’ efforts for change.

Future Sound Asia filed a lawsuit against The 1975 Productions LLP, claiming the band members breached their duty of care. However, the band’s lawyer, Edmund Cullen, argued that the case should only target the company, not the individual band members. Judge William Hansen agreed, ruling that there were no valid grounds to hold the band members personally liable and permitting the lawsuit to proceed against the company only.

“Future Sound Asia only had a contractual relationship with the band’s company, not the individual musicians,” Cullen emphasized, describing the claim as "illegitimate, artificial, and incoherent."

The lawsuit will continue against The 1975 Productions LLP, but Future Sound Asia will be required to pay £100,000 ($126,000) in legal costs.

The incident, which saw the band defy local regulations, came after the authorities had initially hesitated to allow The 1975 to perform due to concerns over Healy's past struggles with addiction. They eventually agreed on the condition that Healy adhere to specific guidelines. However, during the 2023 performance, Healy’s remarks and the kiss, along with other actions such as bringing a bottle of wine on stage, led to the cancellation of the event.

Healy has a history of making bold political statements for LGBTQ+ rights, including a 2019 concert in the UAE where same-sex relationships are also illegal. After the incident in Malaysia, The 1975 canceled upcoming concerts in Taiwan and Jakarta, Indonesia. Following the controversy, the Malaysian government placed the band on a blacklist.

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