According to NME, the 1975’s frontman, Matty Healy, has responded to Muse’s decision to remove a song from their setlist for an upcoming concert in Malaysia. The move comes after The 1975 and Healy were banned from Kuala Lumpur due to their criticism of the Malaysian government’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws during a recent performance.
Healy and the band made headlines after their show in Kuala Lumpur where he expressed his disapproval of the country’s restrictive laws and engaged in onstage antics, including kissing the bassist and smashing a drone. The incident led to the cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival’s remaining performances.
Muse, who are set to perform in Malaysia following The 1975’s ban, reportedly took a proactive approach to ensure their performance adheres to the country’s guidelines. They reached out to organizers and voluntarily removed one song from their setlist due to its potentially sensitive title. However, the specific song in question was not disclosed.
“I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it. I don’t see the f****** 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.”
In response to Muse’s decision, Matty Healy shared a screenshot of a Muse pre-order message that reads “Join the Resistance” on his personal Instagram Stories, followed by the news of the song removal from their setlist.
They called us shortly after the incident went global. After discussions, they decided to pull one song out of the setlist due to the title of the song. It’s nice to know they’re eager to entertain while also respecting the guidelines.”
While The 1975’s actions were met with some support, many in the Malaysian LGBTQ+ community condemned them, asserting that Healy’s actions undermined years of progress made by local activists and endangered vulnerable minority communities. Malaysian artists and vendors are reportedly preparing a class action lawsuit against The 1975, seeking compensation for losses incurred due to the incident.
The cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival also impacted food vendors who had invested significant amounts in preparation for the event. Calls for support have been circulating in local media to assist the affected vendors.
