The band 1975’s frontman and lead singer Matt Healy kissed a male fan onstage during their performance in Dubai. During the band’s songs “Love Someone” The 1975 frontman Matt Healy jumped down from stage to embrace a fan. Once the embrace was finished he sealed it off with a kiss. The crowed was roaring with cheers and screaming for joy as homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates and can be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This isn’t the first political stance the band has taken regarding anti-LGBTQ laws around the world.
Last year the band made a significant five figure donation to London’s first ever LGBTQ center, as well as targeting male misogynists in an acceptance speech at the Britt Awards earlier this year. The lead singer tweeted later after the show, “Thank you Dubai you were so amazing. I don’t think we’ll be allowed back due to my ‘behaviour’ but know that I love you and I wouldn’t have done anything differently given the chance again…But who knows maybe they will let me back in let’s just wait and see :)”
But the band doesn’t just stop at standing up for the rights of the LGBTQ community, they sought after one of the most influential climate change activists, 16 year old Greta Thunberg, to be featured on the opening track of their album. Greta Thunberg gained massive media attention when she started skipping school to protest for climate change, which led to a massive worldwide movement of school strikes. Perhaps one of the most important people to give a platform too, the band felt bewildered when they found out other big name artists didn’t want to work with this young activist. Although the 1975 isn’t the most carbon efficient band, they have worked on cutting out their plastic use amongst band members, and is even working on other areas like pollution created from vinyl production. The 1975’s constant voice in political change is a evident with their past, and only gets highlighted as they move forward.
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