Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival organisers demand US$2.7 million compensation from UK band The 1975

On Jul 21, the band’s frontman – who is more popularly known as Matty Healy – was seen kissing bassist Ross MacDonald onstage after criticising the Malaysian government’s stance against homosexuality in a profanity-laden speech to the festival audience. 

The next day, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil instructed the organisers to cancel the remaining two days of the three-day festival.   

FSA said in their statement that the band’s actions “intentionally contravened” its agreement with FSA for their performance at the festival. 

“This breach led to the festival’s cancellation, resulting in significant financial losses for FSA and negatively impacting local artists and businesses that depended on the festival’s success – affecting the livelihoods of many Malaysians,” it added. 

A lawyer CNA spoke to said that even though the cancellation of the Good Vibes Festival was initiated by the Malaysian government, it will not have a bearing on the chances of success of the potential lawsuit against The 1975. 

“It could, however, have a bearing on the amount of damages the Court awards to Future Sound Asia for the breach of the pre-show written assurance,” said litigation lawyer Joshua Wu Kai-Ming. 

He noted that ultimately, the basis for the intended lawsuit is the breach of the pre-show written assurance between The 1975 – or its representative – with FSA. 

He added that The 1975’s return to the UK also does not have any bearing on the chances of the lawsuit, though the lawsuit may be delayed if The 1975 – who is currently on tour – is not in the UK to receive the court papers. 

This is the latest of two legal actions that may be taken against the band. The first is a pro bono class action suit by local artists and vendors affected by the cancellation of the festival. 

In a Facebook post on Jul 22, the founder of Thomas Philip Advocates & Solicitors, Mathew Thomas Philip, announced that a pro bono team is improving the first working draft of the class action lawsuit. 

After a town hall meeting with the affected vendors and artists three days later, Mr Philip called on The 1975 to refund the substantial fee that was paid to the band. 

“The irony is that many of us in the room in some way funded the substantial fee that was paid to The 1975, which they happily took, to only deliberately breach their assurances, and rain misery on us.

“I invite The 1975 to refund that substantial fee without admission of liability if need be so we can use that money to compensate some of the poorer victims of their conduct,” he wrote in a Facebook post.