It’s been over a year since that infamous kiss involving The 1975’s Matty Healy and Ross Macdonald at the 2023 Good Vibes Festival (GVF). The incident caused the subsequent cancellation of the festival but also made international headlines after GVF and Future Sound Asia (FSA) said they’ll sue the band for damages.
Variety magazine recently reported that FSA has officially filed a lawsuit against The 1975, seeking a whopping USD2.4 million (approximately RM11 million) from the band for violating the event’s behaviour code. However, the total is slightly less than the USD2.6 million the music festival organisers had initially asked for. According to court documents filed in the UK High Court, the organisers claimed that the band and their management team were aware of the numerous prohibitions and guidelines the band had to abide by to perform at the Malaysian music festival.
The guidelines issued by the Malaysia Central Agency for the Application for Foreign Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (PUSPAL) include a ban on swearing, smoking, drinking, talking about politics or religion, and kissing. FSA also pointed out the band were previously told of the prohibitions when they performed at GVF 2016 and were reminded of the prohibitions ahead of their 2023 performance. It was also reported that the band’s application to perform at GVF 2023 was initially rejected and was only approved after the band appealed, assuring that they would adhere to the rules.
However, the lawsuit claimed that the night before their performance, The 1975 had planned to act in a way intended to breach the guidelines, which included frontman Matty making a provocative speech and taking part in a “long pretend passionate embrace” with bassist Ross. GVF also claimed the band had intended to cause offence and breach the regulations and the terms of the agreement. Besides breaching the no kissing and not politics ban, the organisers also accused Matty of drinking alcohol on stage, smoking, and deliberately damaging the festival’s property.
Following the kiss, PUSPAL representatives ordered The 1975 to stop their performance, and the government revoked the festival’s licence the day after, thus cancelling the final two days of GVF. The band has yet to comment on the lawsuit not filed a defence – but what are your thoughts on this?
Sources: Variety, The Guardian
