On-stage kiss cancels band's shows

British pop rock band The 1975 says it is canceling its shows in Jakarta and Taipei after the Malaysian government cut short a music festival in the wake of the band's lead singer slamming the country's anti-gay laws and kissing a male bandmate during their performance.

The 1975 was scheduled to have a performance at We The Fest, Indonesia's annual summer music festival, in Jakarta, part of their 2023 Asia tour.

The band said: "Unfortunately due to the current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the current shows."

Matt Healey, pictured, the lead vocal of The 1975, used profanity in his speech criticizing the government's stance against homosexuality, before kissing bass player Ross MacDonald. Footage of the incident was posted on social media and sparked a backlash in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

It wasn't the first time that Healey used the stage to defend lesbian and gay rights. In 2019, he kissed a male fan during a concert in the United Arab Emirates, which also outlaws homosexual acts.