Selangor Police Chief confirms completion of probe into The 1975’s controversial actions at GVF2023

MALAYSIA: The investigation into the controversy sparked by the British band The 1975 at the recent Good Vibes Festival 2023 (GVF2023) at Sepang International Circuit has been finalised.

According to Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, statements were obtained from 28 individuals, including ten from the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artists (Puspal), one organizer, and 17 complainants.

He added that the police could not take statements from the band members due to their swift departure from the country.

Hussein said in a meeting with the media on Thursday (10 Aug) that the organisers will be held responsible for the incident.

During the festival on 21 July, singer Matty Healy openly criticised the country’s LGBTQ laws and proceed to kiss his bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage.

As a result of this incident, the organizers decided to cancel the band’s performance and the subsequent two days of the festival following the decision of the Communications and Digital Ministry.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay responded to concerns about police inaction regarding The 1975.

He explained that the initial report was filed at 2 pm on 22 July, which was several hours after the band had already left the country.

He stated, “There are queries regarding the police’s response time. The incident occurred on July 21 at 11.30 pm, and we understand that the concert was halted shortly after.

The band departed the following morning at 5.30 am, merely six hours after the incident.”

Matty Healy addressed The 1975’s controversy for the first time while performing in Hawaii

On 6 Aug, Healy addressed the band’s controversy before performing a song on their set in Hawaii.

He said while the musical instruments playing in the background, “All I’ll say is that I don’t give a f**k about any white saviour complex bullsh*t.”

The crowd cheered before he continues, “What I’ll say is that doing the right thing often requires quite a lot of sacrifice and very little reward.”

“And being seen to do the right thing requires very little sacrifice, and that’s when you get all the rewards.

And me and Ross [MacDonald] nearly shaved our heads because we thought we were going to prison for being f*gs”.

@tcims

♬ original sound – tcims

GVF2023’s organiser pursues legal action against The 1975

On 7 Aug, Future Sound Asia (FSA), the organiser of GVF2023 announced its intention to initiate legal proceedings against The 1975 and issued a Letter of Claim to the band.

As stated in the press release, the claim demands that The 1975 acknowledge their liability and compensate FSA for the incurred damages.

It also states that if the band fails to do so, the organizers will pursue legal proceedings in the Courts of England.

The 1975 ordered to pay the Malaysian festival organiser RM12.3 million in seven days or face legal suit in the UK.

On 8 Aug, the band received a seven-day notice from FSA to pay over RM12.3 million for the damages caused at the festival.