VietNamNet Bridge – The organizers of the Vietnam Next Top Model reality show have invited three contestants to see their lawyers, after these contestants disclosed information about the reality show on their blogs.

Final outcome of Vietnam’s Next Top Model 2011 leaked out?

The three contestants, who were rejected from the show, are Hoang Anh, Thuy Duong and Phuong Nghi.

Le Thi Quynh Trang, the program’s Executive Producer, said that the show’s creators may seek legal action against the young models, as the leak caused a public stir which damaged the show’s reputation.

The leak appeared online last week, in the form of a picture said to capture the four finalists, Le Thi Thuy, Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, Tra My, and Hoang Thi Thuy in a Singaporean fashion show, that quickly spread through the Internet.

After that another picture which is said to feature the three finalists appeared again on the Internet.

The show is currently on its 10th episode, with seven potential winners remaining, so the revelation of the final four models came as a surprise.

Episodes of Vietnam’s Next Top Model are filmed well ahead of their air date, so it is important that those involved with the show’s production do not let details of upcoming episodes slip to the public.

According to Trang, strict rules regarding information security dominate the contracts signed by contestants on the show, much like on the American version.

Trang said the producer’s legal representatives had collected sufficient evidence regarding the leak, and summoned the three models who are believed to be behind it to their office for further legal discussion on November 30. However, one of them wanted to postpone the meeting on December 1, while others did not cooperate.

“If they are non-cooperative, we will take other measures,” Trang said.
She also added that many viewers had said the leak spoiled the program’s remaining episodes, and that they did not want to follow the show anymore. Given this fact, the show will likely lose viewers and revenue from advertisements, with Trang confirming that “An estimated compensation of VND 5 billion (US$ 238,000) from each contestant is what we would like, since they caused such harm to the program’s reputation and financial state. Such actions are prohibited in Rule 13 of the contract.”

However, it is only clear whether the show organizers to sue the three contestants or not after December 1.
Vietnam’s Next Top Model, which is in its second season, also drew attention when Hoang Oanh, who was eliminated in the 8th episode last week, publicly criticized the show, its organizers, and panel members on her personal Facebook page.

Oanh wrote that “The show has taken many things from me, all of them. I hate it. I hate it all” on her status, and she also commented that she had been treated unfairly on the show and that the program was following a pre-arranged plot.

Judge member Do Manh Cuong, one of the top fashion designers in Vietnam, fought back; calling the young model “uneducated,” while saying he would never allow Hoang Oanh to participate in his shows because of her arrogant and self-centered behavior.

Hoang Oanh then offered apology to the organizers and the jury.

VietNamNet/Tuoitre/Dat Viet