Malaysia Cancels Song Pageant After Matty Healy Slammed Nation’s Anti-LGBTQ Rules

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — British pop rock band The 1975 introduced on Sunday it was once canceling its presentations in Jakarta and Taipei after the Malaysian executive lower brief a track pageant within the wake of the band’s lead singer slamming the rustic’s anti-gay regulations and kissing a male bandmate all over their efficiency.

The 1975 was once scheduled to have a efficiency at We The Fest, Indonesia’s annual summer season track pageant, in Jakarta on Sunday night time, a part of their 2023 Asia excursion.

“The 1975 be apologetic about to announce that their impending presentations in Jakarta and Taipei will not be going forward as deliberate,” the gang mentioned in a observation posted on We The Fest’s social media platforms on Sunday. They added that the verdict was once now not made calmly “however sadly because of the present instances, it’s unattainable to continue with the present presentations.”

Indonesia, the sector’s maximum populous Muslim country, does now not limit LGBTQ rights with the exception of within the conservative Aceh province.

Matty Healy, the lead vocal of The 1975, used profanity in his speech criticizing the federal government’s stance in opposition to homosexuality, sooner than kissing bass participant Ross MacDonald. Pictures of the incident was once posted on social media and sparked a backlash in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Communications and Virtual Minister Fahmi Fadzil slammed Matty Healy’s habits past due Friday and mentioned in a Fb put up that homosexuality is a criminal offense within the nation punishable via as much as two decades in jail and caning.

It wasn’t the primary time that Healy used the degree to shield lesbian and homosexual rights. In 2019, he kissed a male fan all over a live performance within the United Arab Emirates, which additionally outlaws gay acts, in keeping with media stories.