FEATURE:
Not Being Funny in a Foreign Language
IN THIS PHOTO: The 1975
Why Are More Male Artists Not Using Their Voice and Platform for Good?
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CREATING more trouble and furore…
PHOTO CREDIT: Jordan Hughes Curtis
that he should, The 1975’s Matty Healy keeps stoking flames which his band started. To be fair, Malaysia’s anti-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ laws and attitudes are insane and inhumane. They violate human rights, and I don’t think any artist should play there until the law changes – and that goes for any other country that imposes such repressive and discrimination laws. The band should do their research before heading to the country. If they played, they should not have anger organisers by performing a gay kiss on stage. I know that would be seen as a positive things in the civilised world but, here, it was unnecessarily thoughtless and petulant – which resulted in the Good Vibes (ironically named!) Festival being cancelled. Now The 1975 are being asked to pay for money lost because of that. NME explain more:
“The 1975‘s Matty Healy has addressed the band’s ongoing controversies in Malaysia after they were banned from the country last month.
While performing in Hawaii on August 6, Healy addressed the crowd before the band dove into ’28’. “All I’ll say is that I don’t give a fuck about any white saviour complex bullshit. What I’ll say is that doing the right thing often requires quite a lot of sacrifice and very little reward. And being seen to do the right thing requires very little sacrifice, and that’s when you get all the rewards. And me and Ross [MacDonald] nearly shaved our heads because we thought we were going to prison for being f*gs”.
Healy’s comments come after he and The 1975 were banned from Malaysia after criticising the country’s government for anti-LGBTQ laws during their headlining set at Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes Festival.
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 would go on to kiss bandmate and bassist Ross MacDonald on the lips onstage before their set was cut short two songs later – just seven songs into their setlist – and it was announced that the band were banned from Malaysia and had to leave. The following day, the Malaysian government ordered the cancellation of the remaining two days of Good Vibes Festival.
Yesterday (August 7), Future Sound Asia – the organiser of Good Vibes in Malaysia – revealed that they are pursuing legal action against The 1975, and have sent a Letter Of Claim to the British indie band.
According to a press release, the claim demands that The 1975 acknowledge their liability and compensate Future Sound Asia (FSA) for the damages incurred. It also states that if the band fail to do so, the organisers will pursue legal proceedings in the Courts of England.
“FSA would like to reiterate their strong disapproval of the Band’s behaviour during their performance at GVF2023,” it reads. “In particular, lead singer Matthew Timothy Healy’s use of abusive language, equipment damage, and indecent stage behaviour not only flagrantly breached local guidelines and Malaysian laws but also tarnished the reputation of the 10-year-old festival.”
Following their actions at the headline set last month, the Malaysian LGBTQ+ community have condemned Healy, suggesting Healy’s actions would make life for the LGBTQ+ community in the country worse.
Additionally, it was reported that by the end of July, 18 police reports had been filed regarding the incident and a class action lawsuit was being readied by Malaysian law firm Thomas Philip – which described the incident as a “deliberate reckless act done knowing well [sic] of the consequences”.
Elsewhere at Lollapalooza this past weekend, The 1975 seemed to poked fun at the Malaysia controversy before performing ‘It’s Not Living If It’s Not With You’.
The moment came during the part of their set where Healy begins to say something controversial, before the band abruptly cut him off with the beginning riff of the song. While performing the song during their set at this year’s Lollapalooza, Healy said: “You want my travel tip? Don’t go to…” before getting cut off by the start of the track”.
IMAGE CREDIT: kjpargeter via Freepik
Even though I hugely dislike Matty Healy and have said as much in a feature before, I can understand why artists would want to take a stand against anything anti-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+. If you are on a stage and you know resisting or protesting would lead to big consequences and no real resolution of the issue, then why do it?! Muse also played at the Good Vibes Festival. Both bands could have cancelled and shared their views back in the U.K. Protesting against festivals like this and urging countries that impose anti-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ to change their ways – otherwise they will not be playing in these nations. I know women in music need to play their part too but, to be fair, many of the very best and biggest are trying to affect change and progress in a number of areas. They seem more proactive and conscientious. That may sound like a generalisation though, in an industry where men still have most of the power and are seen as the most influential. The industry certainly gives them more attention and opportunity. There are many men in the music industry trying to bring about change and highlight inequality. You do not hear many artists doing that. I have said before how it can be a commercial risk taking a stance on an issue. You have to ask whether the risk of staying quiet – and things carrying on as they are – outweighs the risk of speaking out. There are interviews, award ceremonies and gigs where they can speak up and out. From anti-L.B.G.T.Q.I.A.+ laws and discrimination to climate change to gender inequality and sexual assault in the industry (which there are especially few male artists discussing this!), how much of this is being discussed and challenged?!
PHOTO CREDIT: anna-m. w. via Freepik
I do think that you can maintain a balance of being passionate about causes and talking about it and also focus on music. I have said quite a few times how things like gender equality and sexual assault are subjects men in the industry should do more to address. They do not need to say they understand what a person or group is going through. A hesitation because they feel they are neither qualified enough or have understanding or experience. Saying that they are against nations like Malaysia imposing anti-L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ laws or speaking about how unfair it is that there is inequality through the industry is taking a compassionate and proactive stance. Beyond that, there are forms of protest that can force awakening and change. By not playing festivals that are not supporting women and non-binary artists. Refusing to play or sell your music in nations that are morally corrupt. It is quite a brave step - though it is also very necessary. Of course, this applies to all of the music industry. In past years, there has been a lot more activation and action from women. Whether that is protecting their own rights or calling for change, they have not had the same support from men as they should. Matty Healy’s misguided and irresponsible baiting of a serious issue shows that making a joke about something like getting a festival cancelled and not addressing the actual issue is not funny. He and his band could have walked off stage and then condemned the festival and done an interview where they express their support for the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community. By not doing that, it givers the impression the band do not have that stance. In more than one sense, men throughout the industry need to use their powerful voices…
FOR good.