Lauv’s KL Concert Cancelled, Fans Blame The 1975’s Matty Healy

Malaysian fans are used to being disappointed when it comes to concerts from international artists, whether because they choose to skip out on our country or because concerts are cancelled. Malaysian fans of American singer-songwriter Lauv have now been met with news of the latter as his upcoming concert on 6 & 7 September at the Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre has been cancelled.

Live Nation, the concert’s organiser, issued a statement to ticket holders saying that Lauv’s ‘The Between Albums Tour’ which was already sold out, had been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

"Refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders at their point of purchase. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the cancellation may have caused and appreciate your understanding," the statement said.

Lauv in Malaysia dates got cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances… ? pic.twitter.com/HuJuqzDdQ2

— Danwill Albayda ?? (@DAlbayda) July 30, 2023

A quick check on Live Nation Malaysia and Lauv’s social media pages shows that no update has been posted there although the concert has been labelled as “cancelled” on their official website. Meanwhile, his scheduled shows in neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Thailand are ongoing. Lauv is known for his hits ‘I Like Me Better’, ‘I’m So Tired’, ‘Paris in the Rain’, and ‘Who’ with BTS.

The news comes in the wake of The 1975’s controversy during the recent Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia where the band’s frontman Matty Healy spoke against our country’s stances on LGBTQ+ rights and kissed bandmate Ross MacDonald for an extended period of time. Healy was also allegedly drunk during the set, crushed a drone, smoked and spat onstage. Following the stunt, the British band has been banned from Malaysia.

Last month, Lauv appeared to come out as bisexual in a TikTok video, “When ur dating a girl but ur also a lil bit into men”. His caption read, “Does it have to be that big of a deal? I haven’t done much aside from kiss so tbh don’t wanna jump the gun but tbh I feel things and I don’t wanna pretend I don’t.”

@lauvsongs

Does it have to be that big of a deal? i havent done much aside from kiss so tbh don’t wannna jump the gun but tbh i feel things and i dont wanna pretend i dont. :)

♬ original sound - Lauv

Fans have taken to Twitter to express their disappointment at the cancellation and seem to suspect that Matty Healy’s antics are to blame or that he is not allowed into the country because of his sexuality.

Why would you cancel Lauv concert in Malaysia? ? I have the ticket since May ? I just want to see Lauv ? If this is still related to what happened in GV Festival I don’t know anymore :(

— Kursh | ???️? ? (@kurshbpstan) July 30, 2023

“Did Lauv’s Malaysian concert not work out because he came out?”, one Twitter user mused.

Lauv xjd wat concert kat malaysia sbb dia came out ke

— Nad Yahoo ? (@Nad_Yahoo93) July 30, 2023

Another berated Matty Healy, saying that he was the reason why it was hard for Troye Sivan, Lauv, and Sam Smith to enter Malaysia.

BABI PUNYA MATTY HEALY!!! KAU PUNCA TROYE SIVAN, LAUV and SAM SMITH susah nak masuk Malaysia.

— Sya (@Syakirinnorjaya) July 30, 2023

Another brought up the fact that a large number of artists seemed to be skipping or cancelling Malaysian concerts during the “Malaysia Madani” era compared to the PN-PAS reign.

Lauv cancelled the concert huh.. man so many artists skipping or cancelling Malaysia. ? ? ?. Malaysia Madani literally have less concerts than PN-PAS reign. That's wild.

— Just Terry ? ? (@ConferWithTerry) July 30, 2023

Another user also blamed shows by international artists being cancelled because of Matty Healy.

bc of matty healy, all the international artists r cancelling/getting cancelled to do shows here in malaysia. i’m not going to any but many of my friends are & Lauv just cancelled ? i just feel bad for all of them. this is horrible

— Kat♡ (@IechaFlaws) July 30, 2023

Image credit: @L7CKYCY, @lauvsongs