The drama with Matty Healy and The 1975 has hit a new high—or should I say, a new low? It seems our favorite British band has swapped their guitars for gavel-banging, as they find themselves in the middle of a lawsuit that’s juicier than a soap opera marathon.
So, what’s the fuss about? Well, it all started when Matty Healy decided to go full rebel mode at Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival last summer. Now, I know what you’re thinking—what could possibly go wrong at a festival with a name as wholesome as “Good Vibes”? Apparently, quite a lot. The band’s little protest against Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ laws didn’t just ruffle a few feathers—it turned the whole event into a giant game of musical chairs, except instead of music, there were lawsuits. And nobody got a chair.
The festival organizers, Future Sound Asia, are now knocking on The 1975’s door with a lawsuit the size of a small mansion. They’re asking for a cool £1.9 million ($2.4 million) in damages. Why? Because Matty’s on-stage shenanigans caused the whole festival to shut down faster than you can say “encore!”
Now, let’s rewind a bit. According to the legal paperwork filed in the U.K. High Court, the festival organizers claim that The 1975 were well aware of the rules they were supposed to follow. After all, this wasn’t their first rodeo in Malaysia—they played there back in 2016, when they were told very clearly: no swearing, no smoking, no drinking, no undressing, no politics, and definitely no religion. Oh, and just in case Matty was planning a live-action rom-com on stage, there’s a strict no-kissing rule too.
But did Matty and the boys follow these guidelines? Of course not! Where’s the fun in that? The band, who were paid a hefty $350,000 to perform, allegedly decided to throw caution to the wind—and the guidelines out the window. Apparently, they initially didn’t even want to perform and were toying with the idea of ditching the festival altogether. But then, in a plot twist that would make any soap opera proud, they decided to go ahead and perform, but with a rebellious twist: a completely different setlist, and a plan to, well, break all the rules.
According to the lawsuit, Matty not only gave a “provocative speech” but also engaged in a “long pretend passionate embrace” with bassist Ross MacDonald, which sounds more like a scene from a rom-com than a rock concert. And as if that wasn’t enough, they allegedly smuggled a bottle of wine onto the stage like they were auditioning for an Ocean’s Eleven sequel. Matty, in true rock star fashion, reportedly drank from it, smoked like a chimney, and put on a performance that included vomiting, grunting, and spitting at the audience—because nothing says “good vibes” like a little projectile performance art, right?
But wait, there’s more! The lawsuit also accuses Matty of delivering a profanity-laced speech that would make a sailor blush and deliberately damaging the festival’s video drone. If that’s not enough rock ‘n’ roll behavior for you, I don’t know what is.
To top it all off, Matty claims he was “briefly imprisoned” by Malaysian authorities after the protest. And while the band is yet to respond to the lawsuit, one thing’s for sure—this drama is far from over.
Stay tuned, because this rock ‘n’ roll rollercoaster is only just beginning!
