FILE – 1975’s Matty Healy performs on the Studying Music Pageant, England, on Sunday August 28, 2022. The Malaysian authorities has halted a music competition after the lead singer of British band The 1975 criticized the nation’s anti-gay legal guidelines and kissed a male bandmate throughout their efficiency. Malaysia’s communications and digital minister referred to as Matty Healy’s conduct on Friday July 21, 2023 initially of the Good Vibes competition “very impolite”. (Picture by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP, file)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — British pop rock band The 1975 introduced Sunday they have been canceling their exhibits in Jakarta and Taipei after the Malaysian authorities halted a music competition following the band’s lead singer who criticized the nation’s anti-gay legal guidelines and kissed a male bandmate throughout their efficiency.
The 1975 have been scheduled to carry out at We The Fest, Indonesia’s annual summer time music competition, in Jakarta on Sunday night time as a part of their 2023 Asian tour.
“1975 regrets to announce that their upcoming exhibits in Jakarta and Taipei will not be held as deliberate,” the group stated in an announcement posted on We The Fest’s social media platforms on Sunday. They added that the choice was not taken calmly “however sadly as a result of present circumstances it’s not potential to proceed the present broadcasts”.
Indonesia, probably the most populous Muslim nation on this planet, doesn’t ban LGBTQ rights besides within the conservative province of Aceh.
Matt Healey, lead singer of The 1975, used profanity in his speech criticizing the federal government’s stance in opposition to homosexuality, earlier than kissing bassist Ross MacDonald. Footage of the incident was posted on social media and sparked a backlash in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.
Malaysian Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil criticized Matty Healy’s conduct on Friday night time and stated in a Fb submit that homosexuality is a criminal offense within the nation punishable by as much as 20 years in jail and caning.
It wasn’t the primary time Healy had used the stage to advocate for lesbian and homosexual rights. In 2019, he kissed a male fan at a live performance within the United Arab Emirates, which additionally prohibits homosexual acts, in response to media experiences.