Malaysia Showbiz Latest News and Updates

The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy, has finally addressed the aftermath of his headline-making on-stage kiss with bandmate Ross MacDonald during their performance at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur, thanking activist Peter Tatchell for coming to his defense. The passionate kiss, which lasted approximately 20 seconds, took a bold stand against Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws, resulting in a ban for the English musician from the Southeast Asian nation.

The 1975 are facing a class action lawsuit in Malaysia after comments made by frontman Matty Healy against the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws caused an entire festival to be cancelled last weekend.Malaysian law firm Thomas Philip announced it was planning legal action on behalf of artists and vendors impacted by the cancellation the day after The 1975 played the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. And yesterday the lawyers told NME that five artists and five vendors are now involved in that litigation.Addressing Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws during his set at the Good Vibes Festival last Friday, Healy told his audience: “I made a mistake.

The 1975 over the cancellation of Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian artists and festival vendors.The British band’s frontman Matty Healy criticised the Malaysian government and its anti-LGBTQ laws onstage and then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald during their headlining set at Good Vibes last Friday (July 21), which was afterwards cut short. The next day, the remainder of the three-day festival was ordered cancelled by the authorities and the band banned from performing in the country.

The 1975’s Matty Healy was spotted strolling around sunny Los Angeles for the first time since his on-stage antics sparked outrage in Malaysia.The British singer made headlines after kissing his bandmate on stage during a performance, causing a stir in the country over their LGBTQ+ laws. Dressed casually in a white vest and blue baggy shorts, the 34 year old was seen examining the wheels of his flashy BMW soft-top car while out in West Hollywood.The Sound singer hunkered down next to the pavement, getting up close and personal with the silver rims of his car as he chatted with a man who appeared to be a valet.

The 1975 have axed the remaining dates on their Asian tour following a performance in Malaysia in which frontman Matty Healy protested anti-LGBTQ laws in the country, leading to their set being cut short by organizers. The band's performance at Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes festival on Friday, July 21, was brought to an abrupt end after Healy spoke about his conflicted feelings while on stage in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal and those convicted can be imprisoned.

The 1975 have cancelled shows in Indonesia and Taiwan after being banned from Malaysia following a performance there on Friday.While headlining the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur, frontman Matty Healy criticised the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald. As a result, not only was the band’s set cut short but the Malaysian government also cancelled the remainder of the festival.The event’s promoters said in a statement on Saturday: “We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule of Good Vibes Festival 2023, planned for today and tomorrow, has been cancelled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band The 1975”.“This decision adheres to the immediate cancellation directive issued at 1:20pm, 22 Jul 2023, by the Ministry Of Communications And Digital”, it went on.

English band The 1975, and frontman Matty Healy, protested Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws during a festival performance, and the government subsequently shut the entire festival down as a result.

Matty Healy, protested Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws during a festival performance, and the government subsequently shut the entire festival down as a result.During their set at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, Healy kissed his fellow bandmate, Ross MacDonald, and delivered a fiery speech condemning the nation's homophobic legislation.«I do not see the f**king point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,» Healy declared in a speech during the show. «Unfortunately, you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m f**king furious.»«And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government,» Healy added, addressing the audience.

The 1975 have cancelled two tour dates in Asia after a Malaysian music festival was axed over pro-LGBT+ comments made by the band’s frontman Matty Healy.

Concertgoers in Malaysia have a lot of thoughts about Matty Healy right now!

According to Malaysian law, same-sex activity is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment with whipping.Following the stunt, the frontman walked off the stage calling out, “alright, we gotta go. We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, I’ll see you later.”The Good Vibes Festival released a statement shortly after announcing that Malaysia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital had canceled the three-day event due to the “controversial conduct and remarks” made by Healy.“We sincerely apologize to all our ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners,” they added.

The 1975 has cancelled upcoming shows in Taiwan and Indonesia after being officially “blacklisted” from Malaysia after frontman Matty Healy openly defied the country’s draconian anti-LGBTQ laws while headlining a musical festival in Kuala Lumpur.

The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has been widely criticised by the Malaysian LGBTQ+ community for protesting the country’s stance on gay rights and kissing the band’s bassist Ross MacDonald on stage.The band were playing at Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (July 21) when Healy decried the Malaysian government’s hardline stance against LGBTQ+ rights. Malaysian law criminalises sexual activity between people of the same sex, with its penal code criminalising “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” and acts of “gross indecency”.“I made a mistake.

Matty Healy, the 1975 frontman, went viral after making an appearance at the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia. The singer took a moment from the band’s performance to protest the local anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a male bandmate on stage.

The 1975 have announced the cancellation of shows in Jakarta, Indonesia and Taipei, Taiwan after having their headlining set at Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival cut short and being banned from the country earlier this week.Indonesia’s We The Fest announced today (July 23) that The 1975, who were set to headline the third day of the festival tonight, have cancelled their remaining shows in Asia “due to current circumstances”.“The band never take the decision to cancel a show lightly and had been eagerly looking forward to playing for fans in Jakarta and Taipei but unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows,” the band said, per a statement shared by We The Fest.A post shared by WE THE FEST (@we.the.fest)We The Fest has also announced that ASAP Ferg has been added to the festival’s line-up today, though it is currently unclear if he will be taking over as a headlining act.Live Nation Taiwan shared a similar statement, adding that refund information will be shared on Monday (July 24).pic.twitter.com/Rrd6c2vW73— Live Nation Taiwan (@LiveNationTW) July 23, 2023The 1975’s cancellation of their Indonesia and Taiwan shows comes after frontman Matty Healy criticised Malaysia’s government while performing at the country’s Good Vibes Festival on Friday night (July 21). Healy also kissed bassist Ross MacDonald onstage, before announcing just seven songs into their set that they had been banned from Malaysia and had to leave.“I made a mistake.

British pop-rock band The 1975 has been banned from performing in Malaysia a day after the band’s frontman Matty Healy slammed the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and then kissed his bandmate, bassist Ross MacDonald.  The country, where homosexuality is illegal, also canceled the remainder of the Good Vibes Festival Saturday, which was supposed to run the rest of the weekend with several other acts.  "There will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages and violates Malaysian laws," Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement, according to Reuters.   He added, "never touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that are against the traditions and values ​​of the local culture."  The Good Vibes Festival said in a statement they "deeply regret" the cancelation of the festival due to the "controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band 1975."  The statement added that Malaysia’s Ministry of Communication has "underlined its unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule, or contravene Malaysian laws."           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Good Vibes Festival (@goodvibesfest) A government committee also clarified that The 1975 has been banned from the country.  "I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with," Healy said in a lengthy onstage speech Friday, saying they had considered canceling but didn’t want to disappoint their fans.

Denise Welch has commented on her son Matty Healy's ban from performing in Malaysia after he shared a steamy kiss with bandmate Ross McDonald on stage.

The 1975 is officially “blacklisted” from Malaysia after frontman Matty Healy openly defied the country’s draconian anti-LGBTQ laws while headlining a musical festival in Kuala Lumpur.

The 1975‘s Matty Healy criticised the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and its government on stage in their headlining set.The band has also been banned from performing in Malaysia, according to the country’s official agency responsible for approving filming and performance applications from foreign artists.During their headline set on Friday night (July 21), Healy called out the country’s anti-gay laws, criticised its government and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald on stage. “I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy told the crowd.

Matty Healy is standing up for what’s right!

Matty Healy is taking a stand.

Matty Healy allegedly got his band, The 1975, booted from a festival after taking a stand against the Malaysian government mid-show.

Ethan Shanfeld The 1975 frontman Matty Healy had some choice words for the Malaysian government pertaining to its extreme anti-LGBTQ laws while performing in the country’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, on July 21. “I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it. I don’t see the fucking point… of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy said before cutting the concert, a headlining slot at Good Vibes Festival, short. “I’m sorry if that offends you, and you’re religious… but your government are a bunch of fucking r——. I don’t care anymore. If you push, I’m gonna push back. I’m not in the fucking mood.”

The 1975 saw a festival set cut short in Malaysia after frontman Matty Healy criticised the country’s government for its LGBTQ+ laws, and kissed the band’s bassist on-stage.During their headlining set at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday July 21, Healy gave a speech calling out the Malaysian government for its hardline stance on gay rights.“I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Indonesian genre specialist Timo Tjahjanto has begun production on “The Shadow Strays,” a new action film project. Tjahjanto is one half of a writing-directing pair with Kimo Stamboel that are colloquially known as the Mo Brothers and previously delivered “Headshot.” However, it was as a solo director that Tjahjanto (“May the Devil Take You Too,” “The Night Comes for Us”) was signed to a multi-film deal with Netflix in 2022. He delivered his first picture under that arrangement later that year. “The Big 4” debuted in Netflix’s non-English language top ten.

Netflix has announced a second feature film with Indonesian action director Timo Tjahjanto, The Shadow Strays, starring a large ensemble cast of popular young actors. 

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Korean TV series and films are increasing still further their hold on streaming audiences across East Asia. They accounted for half of viewing time in the first half of the year, according to new third-party research. Korean-made premium VOD content captured 50% of SVOD viewership and 42% of freemium viewership between January and June 2023, with a record 58 million VOD users tuning in nine East Asian territories (Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam), according to Singapore-based research and consultancy firm Media Partners Asia. The analysis is based on the measured media consumption activity of 40,000 Asia Pacific consumers, conducted by AMPD, the analysis firm’s sister company.

Barbie film to be shown in the country’s cinemas, but have asked Hollywood distributors to blur the lines on a child-like drawing of a world map, which allegedly shows China’s disputed maritime claims.The film about the Mattel doll – directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling – is set to open in the south-east Asian nation on July 19.The censors began examining Barbie last week after Vietnam reportedly banned the film over scenes featuring a map showing the so-called nine-dash line, which China uses to justify its claim to the South China Sea.Beijing claims territorial ownership over almost the entire South China Sea, despite rival claims from other south-east Asian countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.However, after “meticulous” scrutiny of the film, Philippine censors were satisfied that the “cartoonish map” did not depict the nine-dash line.“Instead, the map portrayed the route of the make-believe journey of Barbie from Barbie Land to the ’real world’, as an integral part of the story,” the censorship board said (via The Guardian).“Rest assured that the board has exhausted all possible resources in arriving at this decision as we have not hesitated in the past to sanction filmmakers/ producers/distributors for exhibiting the fictitious ’nine-dash line’ in their materials.”Despite being satisfied, the censors have still asked Hollywood studio Warner Bros. to “blur” the controversial lines on the map.

Barbie won’t be banned in the Philippines after all, following a week-long review by local censors and government officials, although a scene with a controversial map of the South China Sea might be blurred for release.

BamBam, also a member of boyband GOT7, has announced the first wave of dates for his upcoming solo world tour ‘Area 52’.Today (July 12), BamBam shared that he would soon be holding his first-ever world tour, revealing its first few stops. the singer’s upcoming ‘Area 52’ world tour is set to kick off in Seoul this September, before heading to Manila, Macau, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok over the next two months.According to the accompanying tour poster, more dates in other regions will be added to the ‘Area 52’ tour, which is set to continue into 2024. More details, such as ticket availability and prices, have yet to be announced.

Vietnam’s decision to ban the movie has been making headlinesNow Warner Bros. is attempting to clarify its intention.The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, was set to hit theaters in the country on July 21, aligning with its big-screen release in most countries around the world.However, Vietnam announced the movie will not be released due to a scene that includes a map using the “nine-dash line” — a set of line segments that represents China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea — which Vietnam claims violates its sovereignty.But the studio rejects the need for controversy.“The map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing,” a spokesperson for the Warner Bros.

banned in Vietnam for apparently featuring a map showing China’s claims to the South China Sea that many say includes the territory of other nations.When asked about the controversy during a press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was dismissive of Hanoi’s outrage.“China’s position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent,” the official said, adding that Vietnam “should not link the South China Sea issue with normal cultural exchange.”The nine-dash line shown on the map represents China’s claim to a vast section of the disputed waters, which are also being fought over by Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan.An international tribunal at The Hague found the Chinese Communist Party’s map illegal. Beijing dismissed the ruling at the time.The map’s inclusion in “Barbie” underscores the growing controversy over Hollywood’s reliance on China, which has rivaled the US for its biggest market in recent years.

Days after Vietnam banned Warner Bros’ upcoming Barbie due to a scene depicting a map of the South China Sea with the “nine-dash line” that is contested by its government, the Philippines is now weighing whether it will follow suit.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Authorities in The Philippines are weighing a decision on whether to follow the lead taken by Vietnam and ban Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie. Vietnam on Monday announced that it will bar the film’s commercial release due to the movie’s depiction of a map that depicts the “nine dash line,” a disputed representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines, like Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia, have competing claims in the South China Sea and strongly refute China’s claim to nearly the entire maritime region. “If the invalidated 9-dash line was indeed depicted in the movie ‘Barbie,’ then it is incumbent upon the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to ban the same as it denigrates Philippine sovereignty,” said Philippines Senator Francis Tolentino, vice chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, according to local media reports.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Bucheon film festival’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films project market wrapped up three days of meetings and pitching sessions on Monday with a prize ceremony that disbursed cash, post-production support and invitations to related genre film events. “The Passport,” a Tamil- and English-language Malaysian project about an Indian rockstar who is forced to confront cultural expectations and her interactions with an imaginary friend, won the headline Bucheon Award for director Ananth Subramanian and producer Bel Choo Mun. It was both a popular choice among other NAFF participants and the unanimous decision of the jury. The numerical winner was “Please Bear With Me,” which saw director Gabriela Serrano and producer Gale Osorio from the Philippines collect three prizes. The project is a sci-fi and social issues mash-up about a call center operative who gets paid in dream-time and uses it to relive her glory days as a pop star. A clearly-surprised Serrano used her second visit to the stage to explain the film’s origins as a deep frustration with seeing Filipina women stuck at the bottom of society and yet apologizing for their ambitions.

highly-anticipated “Barbie” movie has been banned in Vietnam.The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, was set to hit theaters in the country on July 21, aligning with the cinematic release in most countries around the world. However, state media announced the movie will not be released due to a scene that includes a map using the “nine-dash line” — a set of line segments that represent China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea — which Vietnam claims violates its sovereignty.