Malaysia’s government Saturday cut short a music festival after the lead singer of British band The 1975 slammed the country’s anti-gay laws and kissed a male bandmate during their performance.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil slammed Matty Healy’s conduct late Friday at the start of the Good Vibes Festival as “very rude.”
Healy used profanity in his speech criticising the government’s stance against homosexuality, before kissing bass player Ross MacDonald.
Watch the video above.
READ MORE: Australian woman documents her unusual dating experiment in ‘Real-life 50 first dates’
Footage of the incident was posted on social media and sparked a backlash in the predominantly Muslim nation.
After meeting the festival organisers Saturday, Fahmi said the festival, which was scheduled to go on this weekend, will be cancelled.
“There will be no compromise with any party that challenges, belittles or violates Malaysian laws,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
Homosexuality is a crime in the country that is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning.
The agency in charge of approving performances by foreign artists said it was disappointed with the band’s conduct, calling it “an insult and disrespecting the laws of the country.”
READ MORE: ‘An open letter to mums who have just been through a traumatic birth’
It said the group will be blacklisted from performing in Malaysia.
It wasn’t the first time that Healy used the stage to defend lesbian and gay rights. In 2019, he kissed a male fan during a concert in the United Arab Emirates, which also outlaws homosexual acts, according to media reports.
For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.