- The 1975’s singer defends on-stage kiss.
- Controversy in Malaysia.
- Impact on tour and festivals.
During a 10-minute on-stage address at a concert in Dallas, Texas, he explained that the kiss was “an ongoing component of The 1975 stage show” and not merely a ploy intended to provoke the government.
In July, Malaysian authorities “briefly imprisoned” The 1975, according to Matty Healy, after the lead singer embraced a bandmate.
During a 10-minute on-stage address at a concert in Fort Worth, Texas, situated near Dallas, he asserted that the kiss was not a frivolous antic intended to antagonize the government but rather an “eternal component of The 1975 stage production that had been executed on numerous occasions before.”
“Alas, I’ve just realized that there are so many incredibly stupid individuals on the internet. And since everyone continues telling me that you shouldn’t discuss Malaysia or what transpired in Malaysia. I’m going to elaborate on the subject… “In all honesty, I am completely irrational,” he declared.
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According to him, the band “did not waltz into Malaysia” and was invited by political-minded organisers.
According to Healy, had the band omitted any “routine part” of the performance to “appease the bigoted views of LGBTQ people held by Malaysian authorities,” it would have been tantamount to “passive endorsement of those politics.
“Because liberals are accustomed to stating, ‘Silence breeds violence,’ we utilized our platform accordingly. “At that point, matters became more complicated,” he prolonged.
The musician additionally stated to the Dallas audience that it was “puzzling” that “lots of people, liberal people, contended that the performance was an insensitive display of hostility against the cultural customs of the Malaysian government and that the kiss was a performative gesture of allyship.”
Alleged criticisms that the greeting constituted “a form of colonialism” and that The 1975 was “imposing its Western worldview on the Eastern hemisphere” were refuted by Healy.
He stated that they had been invited “despite the band being amateur jiu-jitsu enthusiasts, we’re not very good. And we have no power at all to enforce our will on anyone in Malaysia.”
“In fact, it was the Malaysian authorities who briefly imprisoned us.”
A brief interval occurred during The 1975’s July performance at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur, where Healy engaged in sexual activity with bassist Ross MacDonald while expressing disapproval of the anti-LGBT legislation in the country.
The festival was subsequently canceled, and Malaysian authorities prohibited the group from performing there again.
Two additional Asian tour dates, one in Taiwan and the other in Indonesia, were subsequently canceled.
Festival organizers additionally filed a £2 million lawsuit against the band for contract breach. Future Sound Asia claims it received a “written assurance prior to the performance” that ensured local compliance.
Amidst singing in Denmark during previous performances of the band’s At Their Very Best tour, Healy engaged in mid-performance kisses with a number of audience members and a crowd safety worker.
In addition to unusual manoeuvres, he has eaten a raw steak on stage and done push-ups.
