The arts are a unique environment where creativity, emotions and individual egos are celebrated to the fullest. Yet behind the dazzling stage lights and rounds of applause lie invisible pressures. Artists face fierce competition in the market, the pressure to constantly reinvent themselves, and long nights that drain their physical and emotional energy for artistic projects.

To relieve those pressures, or sometimes because they cling to the misguided and toxic belief that “stimulants enhance creativity,” some have turned to drugs. The entertainment industry is open and often associated with parties and complicated social relationships. In such an environment, the line between trying drugs out of curiosity, using them to fit in, and sliding into addiction can be extremely thin.

Success and fame bring artists wealth, status and adulation from millions of fans. Unfortunately, not everyone remains clear-headed enough to distinguish the glamour of the stage from real life.

When fame comes too quickly, complacency can easily take hold. Some begin to lead undisciplined lives, lose their sense of self-control and develop an inflated sense of power.

The price artists such as Kieu Thanh, Long Nhat, Tang Nhat Tue and Son Ngoc Minh pay after becoming entangled in drugs is not limited to time spent facing the law. For an artist, the harshest sentence is the loss of public trust.

Years of dedication and effort to build an image can evaporate overnight. Contracts are canceled, music products are removed, audiences turn their backs and the door to their careers can almost close for good. Tarnished reputations also bring shame and humiliation to their families and loved ones.

Modern audiences are becoming increasingly fair-minded and demanding. They are willing to celebrate talent but are also prepared to turn their backs on and boycott artists who violate the law or seriously breach ethical standards.

On social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Threads, singer Long Nhat faced fierce criticism after his arrest in May 2026 over what was described as inappropriate behavior while investigators were taking his statement.

At the end of the clip, Long Nhat said that being arrested was “a gamble with life - if you lose, you just pay the money.”

A user named Vinh Phan commented: “What do you mean by ‘a gamble with life’? Who forced you to gamble? If you didn’t play, how could you lose?”

Time for a cleanup

Recent cases involving artists such as Kieu Thanh, Long Nhat, Tang Nhat Tue and Son Ngoc Minh are a costly lesson and a stark warning to the entire artistic community, particularly young people just starting out in the profession. 

Through their influence, artists, whether intentionally or not, can become role models for some members of the audience. When an idol falls into vice, the consequences for young people’s perceptions can be difficult to predict. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is therefore not only a responsibility to oneself but also a responsibility to society.

No profession or workplace is inherently at fault, and showbiz is no exception, nor is art. The fault lies in a fragile ego and each individual’s willingness to compromise with temptation. The spotlight can only truly shine brightly and endure when it is fueled by hard work, genuine talent and good character. When artists abandon self-respect to chase destructive pleasures, they themselves discard the sacred title of “artist.”

Anh Son, a VietNamNet reader, wrote: “They (artists) have money, so they develop an inflated sense of self. Some famous singers, when criticized for inappropriate clothing or lifestyles, not only refuse to take the criticism on board but also argue with audiences online and insist on defending themselves.”

Hai Anh 90 agreed, saying: “Many artists today become famous too quickly, which gives them an inflated sense of power.”

Others have also warned: “If you (artists) disregard society’s ethical standards, inevitable rejection will be the price you pay” (Le Minh Hang); “Audiences today are very clear-headed. You can’t simply do something wrong, go online and offer a perfunctory apology, then casually return to performing” (Quang Dai); “No matter how dazzling the spotlight is, an artist without character will sooner or later be rejected by the audience” (Hoang Cong); “Public figures must know how to conduct themselves and set an example. A deviant lifestyle can have a very negative impact on young people” (Quyen Linh); “For artists, talent must go hand in hand with morality. You cannot use the spotlight to gloss over a misguided lifestyle” (Nguyen La).

Tinh Le