THE organiser of the Good Vibes Festival, Future Sound Asia (FSA), has issued a statement following the fiasco created by The 1975’s singer Matt Healy recently.
The 1975 performance, which was set to close the first day of GVF at Sepang International Circuit on the first day of the Good Vibes Festival, came to a stop after Healy’s speech, which included profanities directed at the government.
Healy was seen intoxicated when performing, as well as holding a lit cigarette and kissing bandmate Ross Macdonald on stage.
FSA founder and director Ben Law apologised to ticket holders, vendors, sponsors and partners involved with the festival. He said the company would update ticket holders on refunds as soon as possible.
“Over the past 10 years, we have built GVF to be a uniquely Malaysian platform for enjoyable music experiences. This festival is not a transferable franchise, but a brand built from the ground up on Malaysian soil, cultivated by dedication, resilience and financial risk.
“Now, this decade-long labour of love faces an unprecedented threat due to the actions of an individual. This is a challenging time for us. The cancellation of GVF deals a catastrophic financial blow to FSA. However, the repercussions of this incident extend beyond us.
“We fear it will erode the confidence of music promoters and stakeholders in the live entertainment industry in the nation and threaten our burgeoning live arts scene.”
He said the company would continue to uphold its policy requiring artistes who perform at the festival to respect and adhere to laws and guidelines.
“As festival organisers, FSA appreciates the trust our fans and authorities have placed in us over the years. We take our role in providing a safe, enjoyable music experience very seriously.
“Prior to the festival, The 1975’s management team reassured us that Healy and the band would adhere to local performance guidelines.
“Regrettably, Healy did not honour these assurances despite our trust in their commitment.
“His actions took us by surprise, and we halted the show as promptly as feasible following the incident.
“Healy’s unprofessional behaviour and defiance of laws and regulations are disturbing, and that he chose to use his performance as a platform to express his personal views rather than deliver the quality show that his fans were anticipating.
“This act is unfair to fans that were looking forward to enjoying a memorable music experience”.
“The Good Vibes Festival community has always been at the heart of our event. We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time.
“We eagerly anticipate the day when we can all come together again in person to celebrate the power of music, positivity and good vibes.”
“We are committed to learning from this experience and taking steps to reinforce communication with artistes and their management teams.
“We will emphasise the importance of professionalism and adherence to local regulations to ensure that future events are conducted with even greater care and diligence.”
