The 1975 call out the Strokes for not protesting Malaysian LGBTQ laws

The lawsuit stemmed from comments singer Matty Healy made regarding Malaysia’s anti-gay laws, which threaten LGBTQ people with up to 20 years in prison. After the statement, Healy kissed one of his male bandmates onstage. Pitchfork reported on the speech Healy gave Monday night at the band’s Fort Worth, Texas, concert, in which he shared that he was “briefly imprisoned,” along with one or more of his bandmates, by the Malaysian government.

After Healy declared that Dallas area fans had “gotten the show where I genuinely just don’t care anymore,” he read a prepared statement from his phone.

He said that the kiss was not a stunt to provoke the government, but rather a regular feature of their stage shows, and the band did not change their set for the Malaysia performances. Healy said the country should’ve been familiar with the band’s LGBTQ-positive stance, and pushed back on internet accusations of colonialism.

Healy also specifically called out Julian Casablancas, whose band the Strokes played the same Malaysia festival. After the incident, Casablancas posted comments on Instagram referring to Healy’s statement at the show, saying “it likely will change little to nothing in Malaysia” and that Healy should “be knowledgeable and respectful toward the culture,” essentially accusing Healy of a performative gesture.

In response, Healy implied that the Strokes declined to speak out themselves in order to preserve their payment for the gig. Then Healy condemned the “mental gymnastics that were employed by celebrities to save face with their liberal appearing audience who delight in having their favorite academic catchphrases parroted back to them.” 

Watch Healy’s full speech below.