LGBTQ+ activists criticised Matty Healy for the kiss and the speech, accusing him of having a “white-saviour complex” and of managing to shut down one of the few safe spaces for queer people in the country.
Recently, the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia has been facing growing discrimination and intolerance, with eight queer activists being arrested earlier in July for staging a protest against the government’s crackdown on their rights.
Un post condiviso da Good Vibes Festival (@goodvibesfest)Now, as reported by Rolling Stones, Healy and his band seem to be facing more consequences for their onstage kiss at the Malaysian festival.
Future Sound Asia, the organisers of the festival, requested that the band pay 12.3 million ringgit (approximately €2 million) in damages.