Fans Say Matt Healy's Anti-LGBTQIA+ Protest in Malaysia Might Make Things Worse for Them

The government, under which homosexual acts are illegal, called Healy's behavior "extremely rude," per The Independent, which include the kiss as well as criticism of the government's anti-LGBTQIA+ laws. The government shut down the final two days of the festival.

During their set, Healy said he'd "made a mistake" even agreeing to appear at the festival, per Deadline. "When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it," he told the crowd. "I don’t see the f---ing point, right? I do not see the point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with."

"I’m sorry if that offends you, and you’re religious, and it’s part of your f---ing government," he continued. "I don’t care anymore. If you push, I’m gonna push back. I’m not in the f---ing mood."

He even said that the band had considered canceling their appearance, but ultimately decided to honor the gig because they didn't want to disappoint their fans. Homosexuality is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Malaysia.

"Unfortunately, you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious," Healy added, per The AV Club. "And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. Cause you are young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive."

"It’s ridiculous, f---ing ridiculous, to tell people what they can do with that and that," he continued. "If you want to invite me here to do a show, you can f--- off. I’ll take your money. You can ban me, but I’ve done this before, and it doesn’t feel good."

The band's set was shut down shortly after, with Healy returning to the stage, per TMZ, to announce they'd been banned from Kuala Lampur and thus could not continue the show.

In a statement released overnight Friday, organizers said, "We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule of Good Vibes Festival 2023, planned for today and tomorrow has been cancelled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band The 1975."

As noted by The Huffington Post, and referenced by Healy in his rant, this isn't the first time the singer has acted out in this manner to protest anti-LGBTQIA+ laws. He kissed a male fan during a show in the United Arab Emirate, to protest their government's stance.

After the incident in Malaysia, the band unexpected canceled planned stops in Taipei, Taiwan and at the We the Fest event in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"Unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows," the band said in a statement posted to the We the Fest Instagram page after the incident in Kuala Lampur.

Indonesia's laws are not as strict as Malaysia, with no national law considering homosexual acts criminal, but there are some local laws that discriminate LGBTQIA+ individuals. Taiwan, meanwhile, has no such laws at any level and has even legalized same-sex marriage.

The band has been facing criticism from the very people Healy was purporting to support with his rant and behavior.

"If anything, what Matt Healy and The 1975 have done is discount and disrupted YEARS of work by local activists who have been pushing for change and understanding AND endangering our vulnerable minority communities, said Joe Lee in a lengthy Twitter thread that went viral and was captured by NME.

"Every country has its laws," Lee continued. "Foreigners don’t get to come in and s--- on us and tell us how to do things, especially when they only make it worse for us."

Many others weighed in agreeing that the antics of Healy could actually worsen the situation for LGBTQIA+ individuals on the ground in Malaysia. "Now we were gonna have to tolerate the political s---storm that's about to happwn while they are fine getting drunk in another country," wrote one. "This wasn't their fight."

Lee echoed this sentiment as part of his thread, commenting, "We do not need white folks to come and save us." This notion of this being a "white savior" performative act by Healy is echoed in much of the online reaction, though Healy and the band do have their supporters, as well.