25 July 2023 , 17:55
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Matt Healy has finally spoken out after being banned from Malaysia following his controversial on-stage kiss with The 1975 bandmate, Ross MacDonald.
On Friday, the English musician made out with the 34-year-old bassist during their headline performance at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpar.
The smooch, which lasted about 20 seconds, was prefaced by a passionate statement from Healy on Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
The Southeast Asian nation currently criminalises LGBTQ+ people, sexual activity between males, sexual activity between females and the gender expression of trans people, and homosexuality is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Matt Healy kissed The 1975 bandmate Ross MacDonald in Malaysia on Friday"I made a mistake when we were booking shows. I wasn't looking into it," Healy told the crowds, adding that he was "furious" over Malaysia's intolerance of homosexuality. "I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with."
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His provocative speech was met by a mixture of dismay and applause, suggesting a divided perspective on the subject amongst the concert goers. As a result of The 1975's stunt, their set was abruptly cut and they were forced to wrap up half an hour earlier than planned.
"Okay, we have to go, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur," Healy told the audience shortly after the kiss, before exiting the stage. On Saturday, festival organisers announced that the rest of the weekend's lineup had been cancelled in light of the The 1975's protest. Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has since condemned the band's performance as "very disrespectful."
Matt Healy was banned from Malaysia after the stunt (Getty Images)Healy, who goes by the Instagram handle @trumanblack, has now thanked activist Peter Tatchell for defending his stunt in a column for the Guardian. The Australian-born British human rights campaigner commended the 34-year-old for putting a spotlight on the nation's discriminatory practices.
"Matty Healy is not a “white saviour” for showing solidarity with Malaysian LGBTs," Tatchell writes in his Guardian column. "The Kuala Lumpur regime will be delighted that the focus is on the 1975, rather than the LGBT+ human rights abuses the band condemned.
"Whatever you think about Healy’s actions, he succeeded in drawing global attention to Malaysia’s persecution of its queer citizens – more so than any other action by anyone else. Hundreds of millions of people are now aware that Malaysia penalises LGBT+ people with up to 20 years jail, plus caning and fines – under a colonial-era law originally imposed by Britain in 1871."
Healy responded to Tatchell on Instagram with the comment, "Thank you Peter you have always been a hero of mine and a great friend to many people I love dearly. You mean a lot to so many people."
The singer's mother, Denise Welch, has also spoken up about her son's ban from Malaysia. The Loose Women host reposted a video of Healy and MacDonald's kiss on Twitter with the caption, "He's my son," and a rainbow emoji, suggesting she's proud of his decision to speak up on the matter.