FEATURE:
Good Vibes, Bad Sentiment
Artists Boycotting Anti-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ Festivals and Doing It the Right Way
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EVEN though one would think….
PHOTO CREDIT: Alexander Grey/Pexels
that there would be acceptance around the world of the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ communities, there are nations that still criminalise homosexuality. Nations such as Dubai make homosexuality a criminal offence. In fact, it is punishable by death! There are these Stone Age and horrific countries that impose such ridiculous and frightening laws. The same is true of Malaysia. They are very strict and rigid when it comes to the rights of homosexuals in the country. It is heartbreaking for anyone who lives in these countries and cannot express themselves and live their lives true and comfortably. When it comes to the media, various films will be censored or banned if they include scenes involving homosexual activity. In terms of music, there are problems for artists who are part of the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community. I think that artists thinking of playing gigs or festivals in nations that criminalise homosexuality should think twice. Recently, The 1975 played the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia. Their set was cut short as lead Matty Healy kissed their male bass player. The festival then announced that it was cancelled. Even though you suspect that it will go ahead next year, that one act caused the organisers to pull the plug. It shows how strict and backwards the country is when it comes to sexuality and freedoms.
IN THIS PHOTO: The 1975 (Matty Healy is pictured second from the left)
NME provided details of what happened at the Good Vibes Festival and how the band responded to them being ejected abruptly. It does seem like there was a massive overreaction. But, given the fact the band should know about Malaysia’s laws regarding homosexuality, that there would be problems if they contravened and ignored those:
“The 1975 saw a festival set cut short in Malaysia after frontman Matty Healy criticised the country’s government for its LGBTQ+ laws, and kissed the band’s bassist on-stage.
During their headlining set at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday July 21, Healy gave a speech calling out the Malaysian government for its hardline stance on gay rights.
“I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it. I don’t see the fucking 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,” said Healy.
He continued: “I am sorry if that offends you and you’re religious and it’s part of your fucking government, but your government are a bunch of fucking retards and I don’t care anymore. If you push, I am going to push back. I am not in the fucking mood, I’m not in the fucking mood.”
Healy later told the crowd that the night would not feature a set of their more “uplifting” material due to his frustration.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kristy Sparrow/Getty Images
“Unfortunately, you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious and that’s not fair on you because you’re not representative of your government,” he said. “Because you are young people and I am sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool. So I pulled the show yesterday and we had a conversation and we said ‘You know what? We can’t let these kids down because they’re not the problem’.”
He added: “But, I’ve done this before, I’ve gone to a country where, I don’t know what the fuck it is? Ridiculous. Fucking ridiculous to tell people what they can do with their that and that [points to groin and mouth] and if you want to invite me here to do a show, you can fuck off. I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before and it doesn’t feel good and I’m fucked off.”
Fan-shot footage showed that after his speech, bassist Ross MacDonald walked over to him and then the two began to kiss. After their seventh song, ‘I Couldn’t Be More In Love’, Healy told the crowd that they had to go, claiming the band had “just got banned from Kuala Lumpur”. The 1975 then left the stage.
Good Vibes Festival have since shared an official statement stating that it “regret[ted]” the set was cut short due to “non-compliance with local performance guidelines”.
“Good Vibes Festival has always been dedicated to providing enjoyable music experiences, and we sincerely appreciate your continued support,” they added. “Good Vibes Festival 2023 will proceed as scheduled, and we eagerly anticipate your presence on Saturday and Sunday.”
The festival added: “To those who attended on Friday, July 21, 2023, we understand your disappointment. If you have a Friday single-day festival wristband, you will now be able to attend the festival on either Saturday or Sunday – simply present your Friday single-day wristband at the main entrance for entry. We hope to see you soon.”
Malaysian law criminalises sexual activity between people of the same sex, with its penal code criminalising “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” and acts of “gross indecency”.
This is not the first time Healy has spoken out against anti-LGBTQ laws in another country. In 2019, the singer kissed a male fan during a show in Dubai, defying strict anti-LGBTQ laws in the Arab state.
Footage of the moment showed Healy inviting the fan to hug him, before the pair shared a quick kiss. Homosexuality is illegal in Dubai and is punishable with up to 10 years in jail.
Posting on Twitter after the show, he wrote: “Thank you Dubai you were so amazing. I don’t think we’ll be allowed back due to my ‘behaviour’ but know that I love you and I wouldn’t have done anything differently given the chance again.”
He added: “But who knows maybe they will let me back in let’s just wait and see.”
The 1975 are yet to issue further comment on the incident in Malaysia. The band’s Asian tour continues with a date in Jakarta on Sunday July 23 before some North American dates. They were recently drafted in as replacement headliners for Lewis Capaldi at next month’s Reading & Leeds festival in the UK, where they’ll be performing their self-titled debut album in full to celebrate its 10th anniversary”.
PHOTO CREDIT: chandlervid85 via Freepik
I am never going to be a fan of Matty Healy. I think that he is a loose cannon that has no real control or sense when it comes to respecting others. More concerned with creating controversy and seeing himself as a bit of a messiah figure who is this rebel and original, he does make things more complicated and difficult than they need to be. To their credit, the band have cancelled planned gigs in nations where homosexuality is illegal or not approved by the state. Also, this is not the first time Healy has got into hot water. Let’s not forget that, in the statement above, Healy used an ableist slur when referring to the Malaysian Government. That r-word has been used by artists such as Lizzo recently. There does need to be more education and awareness around why this word is not acceptable and has no place in modern society. Comedian Rosie Jones also caused controversy after titling a recent documentary, Rosie Jones: Am I a R*tard? As someone who lives with cerebral palsy, she was using that word to show that she is called this word online – and she meant no offence by using it in the title. It is a great documentary that people should definitely see. I am getting side-tracked slightly. Matty Healy has, in the recent past, been accused of racism, misogyny and homophobia. When it comes to flaunting homosexuality laws in other countries, Healy has done it before. My position is very clear: it is abhorrent and repulsive that any country would criminalise homosexuality and discriminate against the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community in any way. Even if Healy’s politics and opinions regarding homosexuality seem contradictory - as he was accused of being homophobic following comments he made about Harry Styles. He seems to be someone who gets called out for prejudice and, in an attempt to right that, rebels in the worse way.
My personal feelings about Matt Healy aside (who I will always find to be childish, hugely problematic and someone nobody should look up to), I do respect the fact that at least he does find Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival to be a sham. One that excludes homosexuals on or off stage. The trouble is, and as he claimed when speaking about the incident recently, he stumbled into it without researching. If you are playing a festival or gig anywhere, you need to research. I find it hard to believe that The 1975 arrived in Malaysia, found out homosexuality was illegal and, in a fit of rather rash protest, Healy kissed Ross MacDonald. I suspect that he knew a while ago and, maybe to change the narrative about him, felt he would get kudos and praise for standing up against such ancient and barbaric laws in the country. Even if he was misguided or naïve in this act, again, I respect his pro-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ stance – even if his past behaviour suggests he is not entirely clear on his stance and opinions. The biggest take-away from this incident and controversy is that a festival like Good Vibes should not exist.
PHOTO CREDIT: 42 North via Pexels
Nations can hold their own festivals, but if they are anti-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ or discriminate against any group, then they should be banned. The 1975 should not have agreed to play the festival. Instead of sending out a message that discrimination against homosexuality will not be tolerated, they took attention away from the festival and onto themselves. Instead, I think Good Vibes Festival will double-down next year and will ensure that they vet bands and artists strictly to avoid anyone else doing what Healy did. What would have been better was to protest by not playing at the festival and sending a more dignified and less offensive statement to the organisers. Rather than lashing out and approaching things like he was Oasis back in the 1990s, a more grown-up and sensible approach was needed. Demanding change and striking out against the festival would have been wiser than rocking up, no doubt taking a paycheck, and causing huge disruption. I am sure people travelled to Malaysia to see The 1975 play (and were left disappointed). Other artists and fans would have lost out. I sort of draw parallels to the England men’s football team and them playing in Qatar for the World Cup last year. Rather than pulling out and sending a message they do not tolerate the countries laws regarding the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community, they played, were unable to really take a big stance against the nation, and were condemned by some for having taken the money and attended. They could have done more good by not playing and getting Qatar to face the consequences.
IN THIS PHOTO: Beyoncé/PHOTO CREDIT: Tyler Mitchell for Vogue 2018
When it comes to how the music industry tackles countries that criminalise homosexuality and castigate the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community, it is quite complex. I don’t think any artists should play any gig in any country whose laws state that homosexuality is sinful and wrong. There needs to be that very obvious step first and foremost. Again, it baffles me why The 1975 took to the stage in the first place, and then followed that with an act that that might have had its heart in the right place, but then caused more problems than it solved. It is unlikely nations like Dubai or Malaysia will change their laws anytime soon (or at all). It is not just artists who identify as L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ that should avoid playing these nations. Their music should be pulled from any Spotify playlists from those nations. The same can be said of radio playlists. The Good Vibes Festival sends a hateful and disturbing message to the world. When Beyoncé’s played a private gig in Dubai earlier this year, it caused a huge stir. The fact that she is a supporter of the Black queer community and promotes L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ rights was somewhat undermined by her agreeing to perform in a part of the world that holds very different values. The Guardian explains more:
“To some, Beyoncé’s performance in the UAE undermines the explicit purpose of Renaissance, which she has dedicated to Black queer culture. As expected, the performance has led to a heated online tug-of-war between righteous criticism and furious defence from devoted stans. Some defenders of Beyoncé have noted that UAE is not the only nation with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, questioning if people would protest at her performing in her home state of Texas – where legislation outlawing sodomy, though made defunct by the Lawrence v Texas 2003 supreme court ruling, still exists, and may even be reinstated following the overturning of Roe v Wade – and saying that queer Emiratis deserve to see Beyoncé live, too. And many have correctly pointed out that Kylie Minogue’s New Year’s Eve set at Atlantis the Royal should have come under equal fire – although the anticipation for Beyoncé’s live return, plus her wider international appeal, heightened the response to her performance. (Meanwhile Spice Girl Melanie C cancelled a New Year’s Eve performance in Poland after being made aware of issues “that do not align with the communities I support”: widely inferred to be the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the country.)
PHOTO CREDIT: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal
Representatives for Beyoncé have not responded to requests for comment on her decision to perform in the country. Defenders among her fanbase have also noted that there have been no recorded arrests, prosecutions or state punishments for same-sex sexual activity in the UAE since at least 2015. But it bears stating that 88.1% of UAE’s total population is made up of migrant workers: what this means in practice, as research by the London School of Economics has shown, is that both gay Emiratis (through citizenship) and wealthy migrant workers (through class) have been privileged enough to effectively navigate UAE’s underground gay social scene while evading Emirati authorities. But for poorer, queer migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, Egypt and the Philippines, many of whom are undocumented, or were denied birth certificates, it cannot be assumed that a lack of recorded prosecutions means that the UAE has been safe for them.
The issue of migrant labour adds an additional dimension to conversations on the ethics of concerts – it’s as much about where Beyoncé performs as who she’s performed for and who she’s accepted money from, namely business magnates whose activities are inextricably linked with the state and aggravate the worst excesses of inequality and exploitation. The UAE has laws and initiatives to protect migrant workers, and yet allegations are rife that much of Dubai’s luxury playground has been built under appalling conditions amounting to indentured servitude”.
Whether motivated by money or somewhat blinded by a need to please fans, it should be a no-brainer that any artists that supports the rights of anyone within the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community should not perform anywhere that excludes and punishes those people. Festivals such as Good Vibes should be banned - but it highly likely they will carry on regardless. More action and protest needs to happen from artists here, the U.S. and around the world. Confirmation and declaration that their music and live performances will not feature in these nations. If fans there would miss out, it is for the greater good. Rather than turn up to a festival, sh* stir a bit and then claim ignorance and deliver a profanity-laden (and ableist slur-including) rant against the government, a more sage and productive action would be not playing there to begin with. That might sound counterintuitive, but running head-long into battle and risk being imprisoned or worse is not the way to solve things! Similarly, the wider music community needs to strongly condemn anything like Good Vibes Festival – an ironically-named event if ever we heard one! Things will not be solved overnight; it is clear that artists and those in power need to come together and pledge a single-minded and unified approach to defying and castigating any festival or nation that finds same-sex or L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ people vile and wrong. The despicable Malaysian Good Vibes Festival should have been a celebration and change for togetherness. Instead, it was scrapped and sent out the message: if you support or ”ridicule” laws in the country then you are not welcome. It reveals a prehistoric, barbaric and…
EXTREMEY sorry state.