On Thursday, Vo Thi Thu Suong, chief inspector of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications, brought attention to a recent controversy surrounding Le Thi Hau Phuong, Mrs. Grand World 2017. Phuong, a culinary vlogger and former beauty queen, faced backlash for singing the Vietnamese national anthem in a manner that was perceived as disrespectful during a live stream with her audience.
Suong stated that the department is taking the matter seriously and will not hesitate to take legal action if necessary. “We will take legal action regarding the incident involving Mrs. Phuong if necessary,” she asserted.
Le Thi Hau Phuong, a 45-year-old from Tra Vinh province in the Mekong Delta region, has a notable pageant history. She was crowned Miss World Business Vietnam in 2016 and went on to win the Mrs. Grand World title in 2017. Aside from her success in pageants, she has established herself as a culinary vlogger on YouTube.
However, her recent actions during a mid-August live stream sparked outrage. Phuong altered the first line of the national anthem and sang it in a way that was interpreted as joking and insensitive. This prompted a strong negative reaction from viewers, who felt that she had disrespected a sacred symbol of their nation.
Recognizing the impact of her actions, Phuong issued an apology on August 16. In her statement, she clarified that she had no intention of altering the lyrics or showing disrespect to the national anthem. “I want to apologize to everyone if my words have caused any misunderstanding, upset, or discomfort,” she wrote. She further emphasized her pride and emotion when singing the national anthem and acknowledged that altering its lyrics is unacceptable.
Despite her apology, the incident continued to generate debate on social media, with many netizens expressing their dissatisfaction and calling for further action. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has established guidelines for the use of the national anthem, specifying its appropriate use during flag-raising ceremonies at state offices, schools, political events, national festivals, and sporting events, among other occasions.
According to Article 351 of the 2015 Penal Code, the misuse of the national anthem is a criminal offense. Individuals found guilty of intentionally insulting the national anthem face penalties ranging from a warning to imprisonment. This incident has also brought to light a concerning trend where celebrities deliberately create scandals to draw attention to their live streams and product sales.
Nguyen Thanh Hoa, head of electronic information at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications, shared insights into this tactic with VnExpress. Some celebrities stage shocking events to generate public attention and provoke arguments between fan groups and anti-fan groups. They then accept administrative fines and continue live-streaming to promote their products.
Authorities are committed to addressing this issue and plan to investigate and handle each case individually to deter such practices and uphold the respect and dignity of the national symbols.
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| Le Thi Hau Phuong, Mrs. Grand World 2017. An image of her with the crown. Photo: Facebook |
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