DUBAI (CelebrityAccess) — Matt Healy, frontman of the British indie rock group The 1975, took a stand for LGBTQ rights during a concert in Dubai on Wednesday after he kissed a male fan.
According to Rolling Stone, Healy and The 1975 were performing at their first-ever show in the United Arab Emirates at Coca-Cola Arena when, during the song “Loving Someone,” Healy hopped off stage to embrace and kiss a male fan on the lips.
Following the smooch, Healy took to social media to thank his fans and humblebrag about the stunt.
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
— 🥾🌍 (@Truman_Black) August 15, 2019
The move was potentially risky for both the band and the fan as homosexuality is illegal in the UAE, and punishable by up to ten years in prison. While the most significant sanction that Healy and The 1975 will likely face is to not be invited back to the emirate, the fan is left to negotiate a post-kiss life in the strict theocracy that features religious police charged with safeguarding public morals.
Healy’s kiss followed a similar public display by Rammstein during a concert in Moscow, where two members of the band kissed on stage.
