Entertainment
Matty Healy ‘undid years of LGBTQ+ progress’ with gay kiss stunt in Malaysia, says drag queen-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro
Malaysian LGBTQ+ activists are not happy with Matty Healy.
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The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy is no stranger to backlash for his tour antics but his latest performance in Malaysia has divided the LGBTQ+ community.
While performing in Kuala Lumpur, the British band’s set was cut short and the entire musical festival cancelled after Matty launched into a LGBTQ+ protest.
The Sound singer decided to speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Malaysia with a political rant before kissing male bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage.
Matty, who is reportedly banned from Malaysia, has split opinions in the community: some are thanking him for bringing attention to the issue while others have claimed it was harmful.
His political statement and subsequent kiss were criticised by Malaysian drag performer Carmen Rose, who said the singer was just feeding his own ‘white saviour complex’.
She told Metro.co.uk the British singer’s actions had in fact undone ‘years of progress’ fought for by LGBTQ+ Malaysian activists.
Carmen criticised the behaviour as a white saviour complex (Picture: Carmen Rose)
Matty and bandmate Ross made out on stage (Picture: Olivia Mustafa/ @bootycallsaul)
On Friday, July 21, The 1975 performed as the headliner for the first day of the three-day Good Vibes festival, which has now been completely cancelled.
‘I don’t see the f***ing point, right, I do not see the point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,’ announced Matty before the song I Like America & America Likes Me.
In Malaysia homosexually is illegal and punishable by 20 years in jail – a law that British colonisers introduced in 1871.
He then turned and kissed bass player Ross to conclude his speech as the crowd erupted into applause, however, online fans have been less supportive.
Carmen, who protects her identity through her drag persona, explained: ‘We are living in a very homophobic government and it just gives more ammunition for the really ultra-conservative government to just use it against us.’
State election campaigns are underway in Malaysia with the country voting in a few weeks’ time so Matty’s actions also come at a time of heightened political awareness.
‘I don’t think he should be applauded, he did more harm to us than good,’ continued the 31-year-old drag star.
The singer is no stranger to antics on stage (Picture: Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns)
LGBTQ+ campaigners say it is not the kiss but his other reported behaviour that is damaging (Picture: Carmen Rose)
‘It’s very privileged of him to do that and jet off, while we have to face the mess that he made for not only the queer community but the music industry as well.’
‘He wasn’t actually standing up for us, he went on a rant, he started vandalising drones and spitting on stage while having this wine bottle in his hand. He was visibly intoxicated and he just started cussing at the government – there’s a time and place to do that but his job was to perform and he breached his contract.’
Carmen explained that it was not Matty’s male-on-male kiss that many took issue with; instead, it was his ‘intoxicated’ behaviour that weakened his message.
She added: ‘He kind of undid years of progress that queer people have been doing.
‘What he did made it even harder for us as we lost the trust of the conservative majority here because they will see it as a sexual act and that we are sexual deviants because that’s the narrative they have of LGBTQ+ people here.’
Carmen isn’t alone in her concerns as the founder of LGBTQ+ group People Like Us Hang Out (PLUHO), Gavin Chow, also voiced concerns about both Matty’s intentions and method to Metro.
Matty made a similar protest in Dubai in 2019 (Picture: Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns)
He gave Matt Lucas a kiss on the cheek after returning to England (Picture: Matt Lucas/Instagram)
‘LGBTQ issues are very heated, especially for the past couple of years,’ he explained.
The founder continued: ‘He just made the situation a bit more complicated. It misses the point, people are just looking at you as this drunk person who’s not making sense so why should we listen to you.’
While PLUHO believes the 1975 frontman’s behaviour was not ideal, Gavin ‘wouldn’t say that one person’s actions will set the entire activism back’.
He added: ‘We would like Matty Healy to be a bit more reflective of what he meant when he did that performative activism. This is a moment for us to reflect on what is a good way of showing solidarity with each other.
‘Before we try to speak against a certain issue, especially on behalf of a community, we need to be able to talk to each other.’
Matty’s behaviour has not gone down well with fans, as the 1975’s Instagram comments were flooded with criticism, calling him ‘unprofessional’.
However, on BBC 4’s Today, LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell argued in support of the stunt: ‘Thank goodness someone is calling it out and he’s brought attention to hundreds of millions of people around the world about what the Malaysian government is doing.’
Carmen and Gavin were concerned it would be used as a political talking point (Picture: Carmen Rose)
Matty posted a joking response on his Instagram (Picture: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
The 71-year-old activist did caveat that when he works on rights campaigns in other countries, he discusses it with local groups – it’s unknown if Matty had the same courtesy.
Peter added: ‘He gave them a voice, he articulated what they felt and that is why the crow roared their approval.
‘There already is [pushback] and I don’t think Matty Healy’s comments are going to make anything worse.’
Matty made light of the situation on his Instagram stories after the 1975 cancelled two further shows in Indonesia and Taiwan.
He wrote: ‘Ok well why don’t you try and not make out for Ross for 20 years. Not as easy as it looks.’
Carmen reiterated: ‘They are already ostracising the minorities but it gives them even more reason to tighten the laws against the LGBTQ+ community.’
Metro has reached out to Matty Healy for comment.
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