The 1975, a British pop-rock band, has canceled upcoming shows in Indonesia and Taiwan after their set was cut short at a music festival in Malaysia. The decision came following frontman Matty Healy's comments on Malaysia's anti-gay laws and an on-stage kiss with a bandmate. The band had eagerly looked forward to performing for fans at Jakarta’s We the Fest on Sunday (July 23) and at the Taipei Music Center on Tuesday (July 25) as part of their Asia tour 2023. However, due to the current circumstances, they had no choice but to call off the scheduled performances. In a statement posted on We the Fest’s Twitter page, The 1975 wrote, “The 1975 regret to announce that their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei will no longer be going ahead as planned. The band never takes the decision to cancel a show lightly and had been eagerly looking forward to playing for fans in Jakarta and Taipei but unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows.” The controversy arose when Matty Healy openly criticized Malaysia's LGBTQ laws during the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on July 21. He also engaged in a kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald on stage. The festival's organizer, Future Sounds Asia, responded by canceling the remaining days of the festival.
FAQsWhy did The 1975 cancel shows in Indonesia and Taiwan?The band canceled shows after a controversy erupted when Malaysia's music festival cut their set due to frontman Matty Healy's comments on anti-gay laws and an on-stage kiss.What led to the cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia?Matty Healy's criticism of Malaysia's LGBTQ laws and his kiss with a bandmate prompted event organizers to cancel the remaining festival
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