London Judge Rules 1975 Does Not Hold Individual Responsible for On-Stage Kiss at Malaysian Festival

Judgment on Individual Responsibility

The London judge has determined that the members of 1975 cannot be held personally liable for the losses sustained at the Good Vibes Malaysian festival in 2023. For further details, please continue reading below.

Court Hearing Background

This decision comes in the wake of a court hearing involving the group and the organizers of the Future Sound Asia (FSA) festival. The Malaysian high court recently upheld an argument asserting that 1975 members should not bear individual responsibility for the incurred losses.

According to Access, Judge William Hansen stated that the FSA’s claim against the 1975 members for financial losses post-performance was “not in accordance with the law,” and expressed that there was no valid reason for such a matter to proceed to court.

Judge Hansen has permitted the case to carry on between The 1975 Productions LLP—acting as a company rather than individuals—and the FSA, mandating the FSA to cover £100,000 in legal costs.

Last summer, reports surfaced that the group was being sued for $2.4 million (£1.9 million) by the FSA organizers, who alleged that 1975 LLP had breached their contract, claiming the four band members failed to fulfill their obligations.

Edmund Callen, representing the group, labeled FSA’s efforts to attribute individual responsibility as “illegitimate, artificial, and incoherent,” asserting that the contract had been established directly with the band and that individuals should not be targeted.

In defense, Andrew Burns, representing FSA, argued that the band’s members had “deliberately engaged in behavior that challenged and provoked the Malaysian authorities,” leading to “significant losses” for the festival.

All comments and legal actions are being monitored regarding 1975’s headlining act on the first day of the Good Vibes festival in Malaysia in 2023, where frontman Matti Hili and bassist Ross McDonald shared a kiss on stage. Notably, homosexuality is illegal in the country, risking penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

During their set in Kuala Lumpur, the singer also delivered a statement addressing the Malaysian government’s stringent stance on LGBTQ+ rights. He questioned the logic of inviting 1975 to perform while restricting personal freedoms: “I do not see the point of inviting 1975 to the country, and then telling us who we can have sex with,” he remarked. “I apologize if this offends you, and you are religious, and this is part of your government, but your government is a bunch of terrible people, and I don’t care. If you’re here, I’m going to speak out.”

The rest of the festival was subsequently canceled, and following the incident, 1975 was banned from performing in Malaysia. They are also facing potential class-action lawsuits from local artists and vendors regarding the cancellation. This situation has intensified discussions among fans, with some suggesting that the band’s actions could further complicate the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in the region.