The Malaysian government has halted a music festival in Kuala Lumpur after the lead singer of British pop rock band The 1975 kissed a male bandmate on stage and criticized the country’s anti-LGBT laws.
Fahmi Fadzil, the country’s communications minister, tweeted, “There will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages, and violates Malaysian laws” after meeting with the organizers of the Good Vibes Festival, which was scheduled to run until Sunday.
The government committee responsible for overseeing performances by foreigners has also banned The 1975 from performing in Malaysia.
Homosexuality is considered a crime in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, and rights groups have expressed concerns about increasing intolerance towards the LGBT community.
Videos posted on social media showed Matty Healy, the band’s frontman, kissing the bassist, Ross MacDonald, after delivering a profanity-laden speech criticizing Malaysia’s stance on homosexuality to the festival audience.
Healy later admitted his mistake and questioned why the band was invited to a country that restricts their freedom to choose their sexual partners.
The band abruptly ended their set, announcing that they had been banned from Kuala Lumpur.
The festival organizer, Future Sound Asia, apologized for the cancellation and stated that The 1975’s management had assured them that the band would comply with performance guidelines.
However, the band failed to honor these assurances, according to the organizer.
The communications minister, Mr. Fahmi, emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to supporting creative industries and freedom of expression but warned against touching on sensitive issues that go against local traditions and values.
In March, the government introduced stricter guidelines for foreign acts coming to Malaysia, including dress code and conduct, in order to protect sensitivities.
The incident sparked outrage on Malaysian social media, with some members of the LGBT community accusing Healy of performative activism and expressing concerns about increased stigma and discrimination.
The 1975 are scheduled to perform at a festival in Jakarta, Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, where a recent LGBT event was canceled due to security threats.
2023-07-22 04:39:21
Post from www.nytimes.com