Matty Healy’s actions at Malaysian Good Vibes festival may now lead to civil action by promoters

Matt Healy’s controversial appearance with The 1975 at Good Vibes festival in Malaysia last Friday may have sat well with some people, but there has also been resounding criticism about not only his comments but his actions while on stage at the event. Healy elicited a mixed reception for his comments while on stage in Kuala Lumpur, criticising Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and going as far as to kiss another male band member on stage.

That prompted condemnation from both politicians in the country and the festival itself, who in light of his comments decided to cancel the remaining days left at the event, with headliners The Strokes even taking to social media this week to apologise that they were unable to play the event. 

Despite Healy joking about the episode, it’s no laughing matter for a number of Malaysian businesses, who are now looking to file a civil action against Healy, primarily for damages. The organisers themselves, Future Sound Asia, have had to file refunds to attendees set to be at the festival which, according to the filing, caused a "catastrophic financial blow" for the festival promoter, while 28 food vendors have also joined the lawsuit stating that they lost potential earnings with the festival having to be cancelled because of Healy’s “stunt.”

Local artists too are set to join the civil action due to loss of income; while international artists were paid in full prior to the event (the hallowed “artist guarantee”), local artists have different payment terms, making the cancellation financially challenging for them. Law firm Thomas Phillip, representing the musicians and vendors, deems Healy's remarks as a "deliberate reckless act" and holds The 1975 accountable for the losses suffered by artists and vendors.

The incident has caused concern among music promoters and stakeholders in the live entertainment industry in Malaysia, with Future Sound Asia fearing it may erode confidence and threaten the stability of the nation's live arts scene.

Malaysia’s LGBTQIA+ community not impressed with Healy’s “stunt”

While Healy’s attempt at activism might have had good intentions, LGBTQIA+ campaigners in Malaysia believe his actions may have set their cause back by a number of years. In an opinion piece by London-based artist and performer bones tan jones for The Guardian, they succinctly summed up the issue with Healy’s comments on stage at the festival.

“Healy is protected by his status – he can return to the UK, where will face nothing more than a travel ban or slap on the wrist. He flies into a country, makes a clumsy provocation, leaves damage in his wake – then posts memes poking fun at the cancellation and at Malaysia from behind the safety of his phone screen.”

His actions have also been described as “disingenuous” by many in the LGBTQIA+ community, stating that the entire “stunt” was a deliberate act of “performative activism” and perhaps making contact with some grassroots campaigners for the cause in Malaysia or donating to a number of LGBTQIA+ groups in the country would have been a better, more sustainable option.