Matty Healy's Mother Speaks Out with Pride after 1975 Frontman Calls Out Malaysia's Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

Actor and TV panelist Denise Welch gave props to her son Matty Healy, the frontman for the British rock band The 1975, after Matty gave his bandmate a same-sex snog on stage on Malaysia and called out that country's homophobic laws.

Taking to Twitter, Welch, 65, reposted an article about Healy's onstage acts of defiance, which drew condemnation from Malaysian officials and support from fans around the world.

"Denise proudly wrote: 'He's my son,' and a rainbow emoji," reported UK newspaper the Daily Mail.

Supportive fans rushed to give voice to their appreciation of Welch and her son,

"You've gifted us with the most amazing role model that we don't deserve," one person posted in the comments. "We can't thank you enough for your beautiful, positive influence, and the way you've supported him, because now look how he supports us. Thank you both for being the light this world needs ❤️❤️❤️"

"Thank you for giving this world the gift of this special and brave human," another wrote.

"This is why I just adore this band ♥️ music aside," a third fan posted. "The 1975 always standing up for what they believe in Matty has always been such a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and human rights and stands strong in his beliefs and oozes passion. He's his mothers son 🫶🏻 a total legend."

"I wonder what he plans to do when they perform in Nashville.... " another person mused.

As previously reported, Healy made his stand for LGTBQ+ equality at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on July 21. Healy told the audience that he'd thought about canceling outright upon learning about the country's discriminatory statutes. Even booking the gig, he declared, had been "a mistake"

"When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it," Healy said from the stage. "I don't see the fucking point... of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with."

But the singer wasn't done. "I don't care anymore," Healy added. "If you push, I'm gonna push back. I'm not in the fucking mood."

It was after Healy's condemnation of anti-LGTBQ+ Malaysian law that "bassist Ross MacDonald then walked over to Healy and the two engaged in a prolonged kiss on the mouth, in protest to Malaysia's anti-gay legislation," Variety detailed.

The band played just one more song - "I Couldn't Be More In Love" - and then left the stage, cutting its setlist short. The Malaysian government canceled the rest of the festival, and The 1975 were banned from the country, the Mail recounted.

The band took its protest a step further and canceled two planned gigs on its own - one in Jakarta and one in Taipei. As EDGE reported, "The 1975 was scheduled to have a performance at We The Fest, Indonesia's annual summer music festival, in Jakarta on Sunday night, part of their 2023 Asia tour."

The 1975 announced the cancelation in a message posted to the festivals' website. "The 1975 regret to announce that their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei will no longer be going ahead as planned," the group said, before adding, "unfortunately due to the current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the current shows."