Introduction
At a recent 1975 show in Dallas, Texas, frontman Matty Healy spoke out about the controversy surrounding his onstage kiss with a bandmate at a Malaysian festival. He did this in an honest 10-minute speech. He went into more detail about what happened, defending the band’s actions against critics and bringing up bigger problems like cultural clashes and artistic expression.
What led up to the incident
At the Malaysian festival, Healy spoke out against the country’s anti-LGBT rules and kissed a bandmate in public. This caused a lot of trouble. Following what happened, the event cancelled, the festival organisers were asked to pay people, and some people, especially LGBT people, were critical.
Matty Healy Case
Matty Healy started his speech by saying that he knew he shouldn’t talk about what happened, but he decided to do so anyway. He made it clear that the 1975 had not just walked into Malaysia; organisers knew about the band’s political views and the type of music they played and invited them.
When asked about the kiss, Healy made it clear that it wasn’t a trick meant to upset the government, but rather a regular part of the band’s stage show. Claims that it an act shot down by him, saying that acting like what performers do for a living.
How to Matty Healy handle Cultural Sensitivities
Healy responded to claims that he had a “white saviour complex” and was condescending, saying that he didn’t understand why people were criticising him for sticking to the band’s pro-LGBT stance. He said that a country should expect Western performers to bring their ideals with them if they invited.
Healy stressed how important it is for artists to stay true to their views by bringing up Malaysia’s strict anti-LGBT laws. He said it was silly to expect musicians to self-censor and said that values would always clash when Western artists came to town.
Views from Around the World on Artistic Expression
Healy drew parallels between the band’s acts that criticised in Kuala Lumpur and things that might seen negatively in some parts of the US. He said that critics might think it was disgusting if the 1975 agreed with places that have strict rules about things like trans rights or abortion.
Matty Healy taking into account past events
During a show in Los Angeles not long ago, Healy also said sorry for “actions that have hurt some people.” He admitted that there were times when he had played over-the-top versions of himself to fit the bill as a 21st-century rock star. This showed how hard it can be to deal with cultural sensitivity.
The End: A Complicated Meeting of Art and Social Values
In the end, Matty Healy unfiltered and honest defence shows how hard it is for artists when their performances clash with different social values. Not only does the event bring up issues of cultural clash. It also makes people think about the role of artists in breaking rules and changing the way art expressed in a globalised world.
