“The 1975’s On-Stage Antics Cost GVF: Lawsuit for RM11.07 Million!”

Source: The Rakyat Post

The 10th anniversary of the Good Vibes Festival (GVF) turned into a nightmare for organizers Future Sound Asia (FSA) when the British rock band The 1975 caused such a stir that the last two days of the festival had to be canceled.

FSA Sues The 1975 for RM11 Million 

Almost a year after the incident, FSA is now suing The 1975 for USD 2.4 million (approximately RM11.07 million), slightly less than their initial claim of USD 2.6 million (about RM11.99 million). This lawsuit, filed in the United Kingdom’s High Court, alleges that the band’s actions led the Malaysian government to shut down the entire festival.

FSA stated that The 1975‘s behavior impacted local artists and small businesses who rely on such events for creative opportunities and income.

Defying Malaysian Laws? Through their legal representatives, Steven Thiru & Sudhar Partnership, FSA claims that The 1975 knowingly violated Malaysian laws despite numerous warnings. The band allegedly signed an agreement, with lead singer Matty Healy promising to adhere to all local rules and guidelines.

Yet, during their performance, they broke several rules by cursing, smoking, drinking alcohol on stage, stripping, and even discussing sensitive topics like politics and religion. The situation escalated when Healy kissed bassist Ross MacDonald, an act seen as challenging the country’s strict stance on LGBTQ+ issues.

The lawsuit suggests that The 1975 might have considered canceling their performance but instead chose to defy the rules with an entirely different setlist. The band’s provocative speech and Healy’s antics with MacDonald were highlighted as deliberate violations of the guidelines.

Criticism of Malaysia’s LGBTQ+ Laws Previously, The 1975 openly criticized Malaysia’s policies on LGBTQ+ issues during their set at GVF 2023. Healy’s actions—kissing MacDonald, holding a bottle of alcohol, and spitting—further fueled the controversy.

Shortly after, the stage went dark, and Healy announced that the band was banned from performing in Kuala Lumpur. The group quickly left the country and subsequently canceled their shows in Jakarta and Taipei.

Following this, the Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil, announced the immediate cancellation of the remaining days of GVF 2023, marking a dramatic end to the festival.

GVF2023 Dibatalkan: Kumpulan The 1975 Disaman RM11.07 Juta