The organiser of the Good Vibes Festival is seeking £1.9 million pounds (US$2.4 million) in losses after Healy criticised the country’s anti-homosexuality laws and then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald at the Kuala Lumpur show in July 2023.
Future Sound Asia (FSA) sued The 1975 Productions LLP in the High Court over breach of contract and said its four members owed a duty of care. But the band’s lawyer argued that the suit should only target the company – not the musicians.
Judge William Hansen said the claims against the band members were “bad as a matter of law and that there is no good reason why the matter should go to trial”. He allowed the case to proceed against the company, but ordered FSA to pay £100,000 (US$126,000) in legal costs.
The band’s lawyer Edmund Cullen had argued the claim was an “illegitimate, artificial and incoherent” attempt “to pin liability on individuals” because FSA only had a contract with the band’s company.
FSA’s lawyer Andrew Burns said authorities had initially refused to let the band perform because of reports about Healy’s drug addiction and subsequent recovery. They relented after the band promised he would follow guidelines and regulations, he said.