High Court Rules Against Individual Liability for The 1975 in Festival Shutdown

The High Court has heard arguments that individual members of The 1975 should not be held personally liable for the cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia, which was shut down after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage. The incident, which occurred in July 2023, led to a backlash from the Malaysian government, resulting in the band being banned from the country and facing a lawsuit from festival organizers, Future Sound Asia (FSA), for £1.9 million in damages. The band's lawyer, Edmund Cullen, argued that the lawsuit aimed to unfairly assign blame to the band members rather than the company, stating that the allegations of breach of duty are based on Malaysian laws rather than contractual obligations. FSA's representative contended that the band's provocative actions were intended to challenge Malaysian authorities, resulting in significant losses for the organizers. This incident has also sparked division among fans and raised concerns about the impact on the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia. The court is expected to decide whether the claims against the band members will proceed or if the case should be limited to the company's obligations.