AusLeisure

British pop-rock band The 1975 has cancelled upcoming concerts in Indonesia and Taiwan after its appearance at a music festival in Malaysia was cut short.

Appearing at Malaysia’s Good Vibes festival on Friday, lead singer Matty Healy attacked the country's anti-LGBT laws and kissed bass player Ross MacDonald on stage.

Having performed for just 30 minute the band then left the stage.

As of Saturday, the rest of the festival was cancelled while the group was banned from playing in the country.

The decision was made after an “immediate cancellation directive” from Malaysia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital as part of its “unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule or contravene Malaysian laws”, a statement advised.

Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.

The band said it had cancelled its Indonesia and Taiwan gigs "due to current circumstances", without elaborating.

It is shunned - but not illegal - in most of Muslim-majority Indonesia, although banned in the country's conservative Aceh province.

Taiwan is largely seen as welcoming to the LGBT community. It was the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

In a statement shared by We The Fest, a music festival in Indonesia's capital Jakarta where The 1975 were scheduled to perform on Sunday, the band said current circumstances made it "impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows".

Healy has previously used appearances on stage to highlight anti-LGBT laws.

Back in 2019, he invited a male fan on stage during a gig in Dubai. The incident attracted criticism in the country, where homosexuality is punishable by 10 years' imprisonment.

Posting on Twitter after the show, Healy said: "Thank you Dubai, you were so amazing. I don't think we'll be allowed back due to my 'behaviour' but know that I love you and I wouldn't have done anything differently given the chance again."

Image: The 1975 on stage in 2019. Credit: Shutterstock.

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