Suicide vest music video ‘an insult’ to arena victims

THE mother of a victim of the Manchester Arena attack has criticised pop band The 1975 after a music video showed its singer appearing to blow himself up in a suicide vest.

The video, which has a trigger warning for people with epilepsy, shows frontman Matt Healy detonating a suicide vest, which explodes into flames and then emojis.

Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was one of 22 people killed in the suicide bombing in 2017, said the video was an “insult” to those who had died.

Healy and fellow band members

‘What the hell were you thinking … it is disgusting and an insult to the 22 people murdered’

Adam Hann, Ross Macdonald and George Daniel are all former pupils of Wilmslow High School, Cheshire, and are now said to be based in Manchester.

Ms Murray wrote on Twitter: “What the hell were you thinking of releasing a music video where you carry a suicide vest and blow yourself up? You are from Manchester. Be ashamed… be very ashamed. It is disgusting and an insult to the 22 people murdered.”

Pat Karney, a Manchester councillor, described the video as “totally insensitive.” He wrote on Twitter: “He is one of us so should know what we would think.”

The band was criticised last month after recording a track with Greta Thunberg, the climate campaigner, and announcing that all proceeds would go to Extinction Rebellion before embarking on a world tour.

The 1975’s management have been contacted for comment.