M’SIAN MINISTER FAHMI VINDICATED FOR SWIFT & DECISIVE ACTION – ‘THE 1975’ NOW SEEN AS A ‘DIRTBAG BAND’ AFTER PULLING STUPID STUNT IN KL, CANCELS JAKARTA & TAIPEI SHOWS – IT’S A REAL LESSON FOR FOREIGN MUSICIANS LIKE MATT HEALY, WHOSE MUSIC IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH & TRIES TO USE CONTROVERSY INSTEAD TO BECOME POPULAR WITH YOUTHS IN OTHER NATIONS! – IT’S ALSO A WAKEUP CALL FOR MUSLIM YOUTHS IN M’SIA: IF THEY DON’T WANT BLANKET BAN ON FOREIGN BANDS, THEN THEY MUST ACCEPT THERE WILL BE FOUL-UPS NOW & NOW BECAUSE DESPITE ALL EFFORTS, NO ONE CAN CAN CONTROL THE MUSICIANS ONCE THEY ARE ON STAGE – ONLY DECISIVE ACTION LIKE FAHMI’S CAN PULL THE PLUG ON THE RECALCITRANTS
The 1975 cancels headlining Jakarta music festival tonight, remaining Asian tour date in Taipei after KL fiasco
KUALA LUMPUR — English pop-rock band The 1975 have cancelled their headlining date for Jakarta’s We The Fest festival scheduled later tonight, as well as their remaining Asian tour date in Taipei scheduled on Tuesday.
In an official statement released by the organisers and Live Nation Taiwan, the band stated that they were calling off the shows, “due to current circumstances”.
“Thank you for your understanding and continued support,” read the statement from The 1975.
Saya telah memanggil penganjur Festival Good Vibes 2023 iaitu Future Sound Asia, susulan aksi dan kenyataan sangat biadab yang dipamerkan oleh artis dari UK "The 1975" di Sepang malam tadi. pic.twitter.com/0X0xjnAmVJ
— Fahmi Fadzil 🇲🇾 (@fahmi_fadzil) July 22, 2023
The band was pulled offstage on Friday night at Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes Festival 2023, after frontman Matty Healy’s expletive-riddled tirade against Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws which followed with a mouth-to-mouth kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald.
The remaining two days of the festival was immediately cancelled as a result following the announcement by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, and numerous police reports have been lodged as a result with many performers speaking out against Healy’s selfish actions.
American rapper Ferg will be taking over as headlining act for We The Fest, which also saw the cancellation of Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi after he took a sudden break from touring for health reasons. MM
The 1975 frontman Matty Healy unremorseful for actions on stage
Tahniah kepada Penganjur Konsert The Good Vibes yang telah mengambil tindakan pantas menghentikan persembahan Artis Biadap Matty Healy yang mencium pemain bass lelaki beliau di atas pentas sebagai simbol protes undang-undang Malaysia yang mengharamkan LGBT. Tindakan bodoh… pic.twitter.com/3TJJ3DV0Qb
— Dato' Lokman Adam (@LokmanAdam) July 21, 2023
PETALING JAYA: In what appears to be a defiant response on Instagram, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy showed no remorse for his behaviour on stage.
Healy shared the announcement that the Good Vibes Festival was cancelled along with a caption saying; “Ok, well why don’t you try and not make out with Ross (referring to the guitarist that he kissed) for 20 years. Not as easy as it looks.”
On Friday (July 21), Healy started ranting on stage about the country’s LGBT laws before kissing bassist Ross MacDonald at the Sepang International Circuit.
This led the organisers to pull the plug on the band’s performance, which was followed by a total ban of the group performing in Malaysia and the remaining two days of the festival cancelled by the Multimedia and Digital Ministry.
The police have since launched an investigation on the incident and are expected to call up the organisers. ANN
This follows Fahmi’s earlier meeting with the festival organiser regarding a “stunt” by The 1975’s frontman Matt Healy onstage last night – performing while holding what is believed to be a bottle of alcohol, before kissing the male guitarist.
“I would like to stress that the government’s stand is clear.
“There will be no compromise on any parties who challenge, mock, and defy Malaysia’s laws,” said Fahmi on Twitter.
“Therefore, I have ordered an immediate cancellation of the festival that was supposed to continue today and tomorrow,” he said.
Fahmi, who is also PKR information chief, said he had urged the concert organisers to identify a mechanism to compensate ticket holders.
He said while the government is committed to supporting the development of the creative industries and freedom of expression, he warned artistes to not touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that go against local cultures and values.
Following the cancellation of the music festival by the government, its organisers apologised to its ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners, and assured them that it will provide updates on refunds as soon as possible.
“We are aware of the time, energy, and efforts you have put into making this festival a success and we value your steadfast support.
“We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time,” it said in a statement.
Blacklisted
Meanwhile, the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) said The 1975 has been blacklisted from performing in Malaysia.
In a statement today, Puspal said it had also filed a police report against the UK band and the event organiser for “negligence and failure to comply with the set conditions”.
“When the application was made, the organisers gave their assurance that they will be fully responsible for the artistes’ performance.
“The actions shown by the band is an insult, a disrespect to the laws of the country and a violation of Malaysians’ moral values.”
In a related development, Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today that the force will be asking the event organisers to provide more information on the incident later this afternoon.
He added that the KLIA police will be overseeing the investigation as the festival took place at the Sepang International Circuit. MKINI
3 police reports lodged on Good Vibes Festival
Selangor police say they are investigating The 1975 for intentional insult and attempting to provoke a breach of the peace.
PETALING JAYA: Police confirmed that three reports had been made at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport police station on alleged offensive behaviour at the Good Vibes Festival yesterday.
Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the police were investigating the actions of the band The 1975 under Sections 504 and 509 of the Penal Code for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and insulting the modesty of a person.
He said they were also investigating the band under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act for insulting behaviour.
Hussein said the police supported communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil’s decision to call off the three-day event on the grounds of safety. FMT
MALAY MAIL / ANN/ MKINI / FREE MALAYSIA TODAY
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