The 1975 have been ordered to pay £2 million in damages, for allegedly breaching a contract with a Malaysian music festival.
Future Sound Asia (FSA), organisers of the Good Vibes festival, said it had received “a pre-show written assurance” that the band’s set would adhere to “all local guidelines and regulations”.
During their performance at the festival, which took place in July, frontman Matty Healy made a speech about homosexuality, which is illegal in Malaysia, and kissed his bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage.
Future Sound Asia has claimed the singer’s “abusive language, equipment damage and indecent stage behaviour” caused the festival to be cancelled.
In a statement shared with the PA news agency, lawyers for FSA said it was demanding £2,099,154 (€2,430,591) in damages.
“The claim against The 1975 is essentially for breach of contract,” they said.
“They entered into a binding contract with Future Sound Asia to perform and the position of Future Sound Asia, among others, is that this contractual obligation was breached.”
“Further, Mr Healy’s representative categorically provided a pre-show written assurance that Mr Healy and The 1975’s live performance ‘shall adhere to all local guidelines and regulations’ during their set in Malaysia. Unfortunately, the assurance was ignored.”
The company’s legal counsel, David Mathew, added: “Future Sound Asia is taking action in response to The 1975’s breach of contract.”
“Their actions have had repercussions on local artists and small businesses, who relied on the festival for creative opportunities and their livelihoods.
“In this connection, Future Sound Asia wishes to move forward in a way that will give the Malaysian community affected some closure.”
