Malaysia banned the British band after its lead singer kissed a bandmate on stage and criticised nation’s LGBTQ legal guidelines.
British band The 1975 has cancelled exhibits in Taiwan and Muslim-majority Indonesia a day after Malaysia banned them from performing there over an on-stage same-sex kiss.
In a press release on Sunday, the indie-rock group stated, “Because of present circumstances, it’s not possible to proceed with the scheduled exhibits.”
It didn’t elaborate additional.
The Malaysian authorities halted the Good Vibes music competition within the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday and barred The 1975 after lead singer Matt Healy kissed the band’s bassist, Ross MacDonald, on stage the earlier evening.
Healy additionally gave a profanity-laden speech that criticised the federal government’s stance in opposition to homosexuality.
Homosexuality is a criminal offense in Muslim-majority Malaysia and rights teams have warned of rising intolerance in opposition to lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender individuals.
Fahmi Fadzil, the Malaysian communications and digital minister, slammed Healy’s actions as “very impolite” and stated, “There will probably be no compromise with any celebration that challenges, belittles or violates Malaysian legal guidelines.”
The occasions additionally angered members of Malaysia’s LGBTQ neighborhood, who stated Healy’s actions might expose LGBTQ individuals to extra stigma and discrimination.
The 1975 was on account of carry out on Sunday in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, the place homosexuality is a taboo topic, although not unlawful besides in Aceh province ruled by Muslim legislation.
Different LGBTQ-related occasions have additionally been cancelled in Indonesia on account of objections from Islamic teams, together with a deliberate go to final December by a United States LGBTQ particular envoy, and the scrapping this month of a Southeast Asia LGBTQ occasion.
Each got here after strain from non secular conservatives.
The Indonesian authorities and competition organisers are but to touch upon the cancellation.
It was not instantly clear why the band cancelled the July 25 present in Taiwan, which has a proud status as a bastion of LGBTQ rights and liberalism, together with permitting same-sex marriage in 2019.
The on-stage protest was not a primary for Healy, who kissed a male fan at a 2019 live performance within the United Arab Emirates, which additionally has powerful anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines.
