Adopting the Kill Switch: Coldplay’s Malaysian Concert Can Be Stopped Anytime
Coldplay’s Malaysian concert was met with a rather hostile reaction as the local government threatened that it could stop its performance should any band member “misbehave.” This message comes after the band showed support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Lead singer Chris Martin has a penchant for wearing rainbow colors and has used the gay pride flag during their performances. Though Chris isn’t a member of the gay community, he has admitted that he struggled with gender identity issues as a child.
The British musicians have vocally supported the gay community and its causes while in the middle of their Music of the Sphere world tour. They are scheduled to play at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium which is located in the upper-class suburb of Kuala Lumpur.
There’s excitement for sure, but given that Malaysia is predominantly a conservative Muslim country, the band’s scheduled performance was welcomed with protests. There were even calls that their upcoming performance be canceled. Many of the protestors are claiming that the band is bringing “hedonism” to the country.
While the Malaysian government is trying to be objective and has yet to shut down the concert, one of the ministers recommended using the kill switch. This means turning off the stadium’s electricity if the band crosses the line at any time.
Fahmi Fadzil, the Communication and Digital Minister, believes there wouldn’t be any problems during Coldplay’s first performance in the country. The prime minister added that they feel optimistic about the event.
The idea of the kill switch is largely based on the controversial British pop band, The 1975, who performed in Kuala Lumpur in July. During their performance, the band’s lead singer disrespected the country’s anti-gay laws and blatantly kissed one of his male bandmates. This prompted the government to cut short the three-day festival and ban them from performing in Malaysia.
When spectators saw Matty Healy kissing bassist Ross MacDonald, it sparked a strong backlash among the Muslims who found the band insensitive and disrespectful of the local culture and beliefs.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was one of the officials who fought for the continuation of Coldplay’s concert. During their meeting, he told Parliament, “Coldplay is among the bands that support Palestine.”
Live Nation Malaysia, the concert organizer, reminded concertgoers to be mindful of the local sensitivities and culture. They are to avoid items and props that can cause discomfort to other people.
The Malaysian police echoed the same message. They issued a warning to the public to refrain from inciting unrest or triggering provocation to avoid any incidents during Coldplay’s performance.
This isn’t the first time that Coldplay has had a less than warm reception from a country. Last month, they also faced resistance when they performed in Indonesia. Hundreds of protesters conducted rallies up until the day of the concert. They held up banners that read, “Reject, cancel, and disband Coldplay concerts.” They were accused of being “propagandists” who were out to destroy their “faith and morals.”
