Actress Yen Vy.

The 2004 - 05 period has been rife with sex-scandals in the national entertainment sector, bringing many names to the fore of popular consciousness. But many criticise it as a cheap, quick and easy route to fame.

Numerous nude pictures and raunchy films of singers, models, and actresses have been publicized “accidentally”. This has caused many “victims” to cry out and blame the trickery of photo labs, or alternatively that they were made confidentially and not intended for public presentation. But their cases are so similar that people suspect the scandals are deliberate attempts at increased fame.

The first and most controversial case, that of young singer Nguyen Hong Nhung, was the trigger for a series of scandals that attracted much media coverage and public attention. In late 2004, the Vietnam Television serial, “Sao Mai: Destination”, featuring young singers vying for the top position, attracted a large local audience. Ms Nhung had been named a finalist when a series of nude pictures featuring her in a variety of poses, and making love, was spread widely on the Internet by her so-called boyfriend.

It created great controversy and divided public opinion around the scandal. Some condemned her, others sympathised with her as a victim of her greedy lover. Both sides thought that she would lose her renown and career, but instead Nhung completed her performances on “Sao Mai: Destination”, and went on to receive numerous invitations to perform.

Following this, a series of sex-related scandals emerged involving model-singer Ho Ngoc Ha, whose apparently staged image in various states of undress and compromising positions, also suddenly propagated on the Internet. Nude pictures of celebrities Ha Kieu Anh and My Uyen, taken during the making of “Luc Van Tien”, then also appear, as if all were a professionally orchestrated promotion.

Some months later, model Bao Hoa became famous for her nude pictures, as well deftly produced and presented. Recently, even male model La Ngoc Duy has had nude pictures appear on the Internet.

Yet all still cry “accident”, trickery by photo labs or the lascivious intent of former friends and photographers. But only they know the truth. Scandals such as these are now widely considered in public opinion as a way to expand popularity and fame, and by extension remuneration. And it seems to be developing as a trend among young stars.

Singer Nguyen Hong Nhung.

Perhaps the most revealing case is that of actress Yen Vi, whose supposedly surreptitiously recorded lovemaking was uploaded to the Internet and sold in the marketplace, and then landed her a lead role in a film directed by Ha Son. It was confirmation that scandals can sometimes popularise a name in the public, making even serious people think about it as a mode of advertisement.

 

Vi later lost the role when police arrested her for prostitution.

 

According to Le Nam, an official of the Department of Performing Arts, sex scandals in Vietnam have caught the attention of cultural managers.

 

“It is not good if young people replicate this behaviour, but it is very difficult for us to stop the trend. It cannot be controlled by force. We have no rules against this phenomenon, and we could be condemned for violating human rights if we intervene.”

 

Nam instead suggested removing the names of offending artists from lists for the nation’s cultural events might be appropriate. 

Hoang Huong