The 1975 Cleared of Individual Liability in Malaysian Festival Lawsuit

A UK judge ruled that the band members are not personally liable for damages after their onstage protest at Malaysia's Good Vibes Festival in 2023.

The 1975's members will not be held individually responsible for the $2.4 million in losses claimed by the Good Vibes Festival organizer, Future Sound Asia (FSA).
The lawsuit stems from Matty Healy kissing bandmate Ross MacDonald onstage during a protest of Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws, which led to the festival's cancellation.
Judge William Hansen ruled that the claims against the individual band members were legally invalid but allowed the case to proceed against the band's corporate entity, The 1975 Productions LLP.
The court ordered FSA to pay £100,000 ($126,000) in legal fees, citing the lack of a direct contract between the festival and the individual musicians.
The incident has sparked debate, with some praising the band’s activism and others criticizing the protest as harmful to Malaysia's LGBTQ+ community.