The 1975 at United Center
The 1975 at United Center in May (more by James Richards IV)

The 1975's Matty Healy kisses male fan on stage in protest of Dubai's anti-LGBT laws

Similar to what Rammstein did on stage in Moscow, The 1975’s Matty Healy protested Dubai’s anti-LGBT laws by kissing a male fan during a show there last night (8/14). Homosexuality is illegal in the country and is punishable for up to ten years of imprisonment. Matty later tweeted, “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 :)”

The FADER posted a now-deleted video of the kiss, which a fan posted to Twitter and captioned, “The 1975. Matty Healy. He did that. He kissed a man at today’s concert in Dubai, UAE where homosexuality is ILLEGAL. I am forever grateful for everything these incredible men have done for us.” The article points out that after the kiss, Matty said to the crowd, “We’re all human, right?”

The 1975 recently released the opening track (featuring Swedish activist Greta Thunberg) of their upcoming album Notes on a Conditional Form, and they scheduled a fall US tour.