The Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has said recently that celebrities (singers, actors… etc), if violating the laws, should be prohibited from performing at events, and appearing on broadcasts and social networks.

MIC has also proposed that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) create a sample process on handling violating celebrities. This is a burning issue mentioned by many local newspapers recently.

In a report broadcast on January 7, VTV proposed a boycott over the artists involved in scandals. Though headlines of the articles were blurred, the report likely named Hien Ho, Jack and other artists as the celebrities. 

The morality and lifestyle of artists have never received such attention from the public before. In some cases, despite the public’s outrage, many artists can find ways for a comeback after a period of living in seclusion. 

VTV has condemned many artists for using their personal pages with green ticks to advertise low-quality products and illegally advertise cryptocurrencies, despite the MCST’s dispatch which warned artists against false advertisements.

VTV cited many examples in China where artists are boycotted and prevented from appearing on all platforms because of scandals in which they were involved.  

“Artists always draw attention from the public and they are idols of people, especially youth. A call for charity and a 'green' life made by celebrities can create active responses from the community. But bad behavior and deviant statements will cause immeasurable consequences,” the report said.

People’s Artist Tran Ngoc Giau said: “To the public, you (celebrities) not only have the responsibility of artists, but also the responsibility of citizens who have to live and work in respect of the laws."

Tan Minh, a famous singer, said he hopes management agencies clarify regulations. If artists know that this behavior is wrong, they would not dare to act rashly.

Concluding the report, VTV mentioned a need to create a law on art performance.

Artists should be subject to administrative fines or face criminal proceedings depending on the violation level. And they need to be kept away from performance events for a definite time. For artists, losing an audience is the heaviest punishment.

Quynh An