JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The 1975, a British pop rock band, announced on Sunday that it is canceling its shows in Jakarta and Taipei. This decision came after the Malaysian government abruptly ended a music festival due to the band’s lead singer criticizing the country’s anti-gay laws and kissing a male bandmate during their performance. The 1975 were scheduled to perform at We The Fest, Indonesia’s annual summer music festival, on Sunday night as part of their 2023 Asia tour.
In a statement posted on We The Fest’s social media platforms, the band expressed regret for the cancellation and explained that it was not an easy decision to make. However, due to the current circumstances, continuing with the planned shows was impossible.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, does not have strict restrictions on LGBTQ rights except in the conservative Aceh province. The lead vocalist of The 1975, Matty Healy, used profanity in his speech criticizing the government’s stance on homosexuality and proceeded to kiss the bass player, Ross MacDonald. Footage of this incident circulated on social media, causing a backlash in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.
Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, strongly condemned Matty Healy’s behavior and highlighted that homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia punishable by imprisonment and caning. This is not the first time Healy has used the stage to advocate for gay rights. In 2019, he kissed a male fan during a concert in the United Arab Emirates, where homosexual acts are also outlawed.