Latest news with #GoodVibesFestival
The Independent
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The 1975 band members not liable for Malaysian festival closure, judge rules
The 1975's band members cannot be held individually liable for the closure of a Malaysian festival after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, a judge has ruled. The Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur closed on the first of what was to be three nights in July 2023, with the Malaysian government criticising Healy's conduct and blacklisting the band from the country. Homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. In a High Court legal claim, Future Sound Asia (FSA), the festival organisers, said The 1975 Productions LLP breached their contract and that the four band members owed a duty of care. In a ruling on Monday, Judge William Hansen said there was 'no real prospect' of establishing that the band members owed a duty of care to FSA. In a written judgment, he said: 'It would not be fair, just and reasonable to impose a duty of care, where the substance of the duty is alleged to have been a requirement to comply with the PUSPAL guidelines and/or Malaysian laws in circumstances where (the band members) are not alleged to have known of their content.' PUSPAL is a set of Malaysian government guidelines for foreign artists filming or performing in the country. FSA will be allowed to continue its claim against the band as a company and is seeking £1.9 million in damages. A previous hearing in London was told that the band had to leave the country the day after their performance, for which they were due to be paid 350,000 US dollars (£274,000). In written submissions for the hearing earlier this month, Andrew Burns KC, for FSA, said the band 'deliberately behaved in a way to challenge and provoke the Malaysian authorities', stating it was 'fair, just and reasonable for the duty of care to be imposed and for them to answer for their acts of procuring breaches of contract'. But Edmund Cullen KC, for the band, described the claim as an 'illegitimate, artificial and incoherent' attempt 'to pin liability on individuals'. In his ruling, Judge Hansen said that Healy was said to have drunk a bottle of wine and smoked cigarettes on stage before appearing to vomit or spit as well as deliberately damaging a drone belonging to FSA's videographer, before kissing bassist Ross MacDonald. He also gave a 'profanity-laden speech to the audience', Judge Hansen said, in which Healy was quoted as saying: 'I do not see the point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with. 'Unfortunately, you don't get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I'm f****** furious and that's not fair on you because you're not representative of your government. 'I'll take your money, you can ban me, but I've done this before and it doesn't feel good, and I'm f***** off.' FSA was also ordered to pay £100,000 in costs.
CBC
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Judge tosses part of a lawsuit against U.K. band for gay kiss at Malaysian music festival
Members of the British band the 1975 cannot be held personally liable for losses of a Malaysian music festival that was shut down by authorities after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, a London judge ruled Monday. The organizer of the Good Vibes Festival is seeking 1.9 million pounds ($3.4 million Cdn) in losses after Healy criticized the country's anti-homosexuality laws and then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald at the Kuala Lumpur show in July 2023. Footage of the kiss sparked a backlash in the predominantly Muslim country, where homosexuality is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. Some 2SLGBTQ+ groups also criticized the band for endangering its community and disrupting the work of activists pushing for change. Future Sound Asia (FSA) sued The 1975 Productions LLP in the High Court over breach of contract and said its four members owed a duty of care. But the band's lawyer argued that the suit should only target the company — not the musicians. Judge William Hansen said the claims against the band members were "bad as a matter of law and that there is no good reason why the matter should go to trial." He allowed the case to proceed against the company, but ordered FSA to pay 100,000 pounds ($179,000 Cdn) in legal costs. WATCH | Matt Healy talks to CBC's Q about leaning in to sincerity: Band attorney Edmund Cullen had argued the claim was an "illegitimate, artificial and incoherent" attempt "to pin liability on individuals" because FSA only had a contract with the band's company. FSA's attorney Andrew Burns said authorities had initially refused to let the band perform because of reports about Healy's drug addiction and subsequent recovery. They relented after the band promised he would follow guidelines and regulations, he said. When the band played the same festival in 2016, they had agreed not to swear, smoke, drink, take off clothes or talk about religion and politics on stage, Burns said. Burns said the band deliberately provoked Malaysian authorities in 2023 by smuggling a bottle of wine on stage, and through Healy's "obscene speech" and the kiss. He said the band also performed a "second-rate set of songs" to upset the crowd. "They could be argued to have been on a frolic of their own rather than simply acting within the course of their ordinary role as LLP members," Burns said. The band was supposed to be paid 276,000 pounds ($494,000 Cdn) for a one-hour set, Burns said. The show wasn't the first time Healy made a political statement in the name of 2SLGBTQ+ rights: he kissed a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, which outlaws same-sex sexual activity. After the show in the Malaysian capital, the 1975 cancelled its concerts in Taiwan and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Judge tosses part of a lawsuit against UK band The 1975 for gay kiss at Malaysian music festival
LONDON (AP) — Members of the British band The 1975 cannot be held personally liable for losses of a Malaysian music festival that was shut down by authorities after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, a London judge ruled Monday. The organizer of the Good Vibes Festival is seeking 1.9 million pounds ($2.4 million) in losses after Healy criticized the country's anti-homosexuality laws and then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald at the Kuala Lumpur show in July 2023. Footage of the kiss sparked a backlash in the predominantly Muslim country, where homosexuality is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. Some LGBTQ+ groups also criticized the band for endangering its community and disrupting the work of activists pushing for change. Future Sound Asia sued The 1975 Productions LLP in the High Court over breach of contract and said its four members owed a duty of care. But the band's lawyer argued that the suit should only target the company — not the musicians. Judge William Hansen said the claims against the band members were "bad as a matter of law and that there is no good reason why the matter should go to trial." He allowed the case to proceed against the company, but ordered FSA to pay 100,000 pounds ($126,000) in legal costs. Band attorney Edmund Cullen had argued the claim was an 'illegitimate, artificial and incoherent' attempt 'to pin liability on individuals' because FSA only had a contract with the band's company. FSA's attorney Andrew Burns said authorities had initially refused to let the band perform because of reports about Healy's drug addiction and subsequent recovery. They relented after the band promised he would follow guidelines and regulations, he said. When the band played the same festival in 2016, they had agreed not to swear, smoke, drink, take off clothes or talk about religion and politics on stage, Burns said. Burns said the band deliberately provoked Malaysian authorities in 2023 by smuggling a bottle of wine on stage, and through Healy's 'obscene speech' and the kiss. He said the band also performed a 'second-rate set of songs' to upset the crowd. 'They could be argued to have been on a frolic of their own rather than simply acting within the course of their ordinary role as LLP members," Burns said. The band was supposed to be paid $350,000 (276,000 pounds) for a one-hour set, Burns said. The show wasn't the first time Healy made a political statement in the name of LGBTQ+ rights: he kissed a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, which outlaws same-sex sexual activity. After the show in the Malaysian capital, The 1975 canceled its concerts in Taiwan and Jakarta, Indonesia. The Malaysian government has blacklisted the band.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Judge tosses part of a lawsuit against UK band The 1975 for gay kiss at Malaysian music festival
Members of the British band The 1975 cannot be held personally liable for losses of a Malaysian music festival that was shut down by authorities after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, a London judge ruled Monday. The organizer of the Good Vibes Festival is seeking 1.9 million pounds ($2.4 million) in losses after Healy criticized the country's anti-homosexuality laws and then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald at the Kuala Lumpur show in July 2023. Footage of the kiss sparked a backlash in the predominantly Muslim country, where homosexuality is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. Some LGBTQ+ groups also criticized the band for endangering its community and disrupting the work of activists pushing for change. Future Sound Asia sued The 1975 Productions LLP in the High Court over breach of contract and said its four members owed a duty of care. But the band's lawyer argued that the suit should only target the company — not the musicians. Judge William Hansen said the claims against the band members were "bad as a matter of law and that there is no good reason why the matter should go to trial." He allowed the case to proceed against the company, but ordered FSA to pay 100,000 pounds ($126,000) in legal costs. Band attorney Edmund Cullen had argued the claim was an 'illegitimate, artificial and incoherent' attempt 'to pin liability on individuals' because FSA only had a contract with the band's company. FSA's attorney Andrew Burns said authorities had initially refused to let the band perform because of reports about Healy's drug addiction and subsequent recovery. They relented after the band promised he would follow guidelines and regulations, he said. When the band played the same festival in 2016, they had agreed not to swear, smoke, drink, take off clothes or talk about religion and politics on stage, Burns said. Burns said the band deliberately provoked Malaysian authorities in 2023 by smuggling a bottle of wine on stage, and through Healy's 'obscene speech' and the kiss. He said the band also performed a 'second-rate set of songs' to upset the crowd. 'They could be argued to have been on a frolic of their own rather than simply acting within the course of their ordinary role as LLP members," Burns said. The band was supposed to be paid $350,000 (276,000 pounds) for a one-hour set, Burns said. The show wasn't the first time Healy made a political statement in the name of LGBTQ+ rights: he kissed a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, which outlaws same-sex sexual activity. After the show in the Malaysian capital, The 1975 canceled its concerts in Taiwan and Jakarta, Indonesia. The Malaysian government has blacklisted the band.
Associated Press
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Judge tosses part of a lawsuit against UK band The 1975 for gay kiss at Malaysian music festival
LONDON (AP) — Members of the British band The 1975 cannot be held personally liable for losses of a Malaysian music festival that was shut down by authorities after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, a London judge ruled Monday. The organizer of the Good Vibes Festival is seeking 1.9 million pounds ($2.4 million) in losses after Healy criticized the country's anti-homosexuality laws and then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald at the Kuala Lumpur show in July 2023. Footage of the kiss sparked a backlash in the predominantly Muslim country, where homosexuality is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. Some LGBTQ+ groups also criticized the band for endangering its community and disrupting the work of activists pushing for change. Future Sound Asia sued The 1975 Productions LLP in the High Court over breach of contract and said its four members owed a duty of care. But the band's lawyer argued that the suit should only target the company — not the musicians. Judge William Hansen said the claims against the band members were 'bad as a matter of law and that there is no good reason why the matter should go to trial.' He allowed the case to proceed against the company, but ordered FSA to pay 100,000 pounds ($126,000) in legal costs. Band attorney Edmund Cullen had argued the claim was an 'illegitimate, artificial and incoherent' attempt 'to pin liability on individuals' because FSA only had a contract with the band's company. FSA's attorney Andrew Burns said authorities had initially refused to let the band perform because of reports about Healy's drug addiction and subsequent recovery. They relented after the band promised he would follow guidelines and regulations, he said. When the band played the same festival in 2016, they had agreed not to swear, smoke, drink, take off clothes or talk about religion and politics on stage, Burns said. Burns said the band deliberately provoked Malaysian authorities in 2023 by smuggling a bottle of wine on stage, and through Healy's 'obscene speech' and the kiss. He said the band also performed a 'second-rate set of songs' to upset the crowd. 'They could be argued to have been on a frolic of their own rather than simply acting within the course of their ordinary role as LLP members,' Burns said. The band was supposed to be paid $350,000 (276,000 pounds) for a one-hour set, Burns said. The show wasn't the first time Healy made a political statement in the name of LGBTQ+ rights: he kissed a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, which outlaws same-sex sexual activity.
