Be careful with the “right to boycott”

The official fanpage of the movie Cai ma had to temporarily close comments due to the fierce boycott wave from the online community. On social platforms, the hashtags #taychayphimcaima, #taychaythienan quickly spread and show no signs of cooling down.

The cause originated from the private scandal between Thien An, an actress in the film, and singer Jack (Trinh Tran Phuong Tuan). While their personal story has not yet been resolved, Cai Ma, along with the director and other actors, became the subject of criticism.

The wave of protests erupted right in the middle of the film's promotion. Under pressure from public opinion, Thien An's name was removed from the official poster. However, during the recent press screening, her image still appeared in the film.

When asked about cutting the role, director Thang Vu only vaguely said, "The matter of how much or how much is cut is not the most important thing." Producer Emily Le expressed, "The audience can give Cai Ma a chance, accept and evaluate the film in the most fair way because this is the passion of the whole crew, not just one person." However, this wish seems to have no effect.

In fact, it is not uncommon for actors to be involved in scandals that cause films to be implicated. Previously, Chot Don, Chu Oi Dung Lai Me Con, Hanh Phuc Cua Me, Vu Quy Dai Nao, or Dat Rung Phuong Nam all experienced similar situations, only differing in the level of influence. Boycotting can be considered a "right" of the audience, stemming from feelings of love and hate, although sometimes it is emotional.

On the positive side, if expressed in a cultured manner, this is also a “self-purification” mechanism for the entertainment industry. However, when emotions are pushed too far, boycotting can easily become an act of “taking it out on someone else”, causing the efforts of the entire group to be erased due to the influence of one individual.

Legally, the revised Cinema Law does not prohibit a work from being released in theaters just because an actor is involved in a private scandal, as long as the content does not violate the prohibition. The decision to cut or replace a role is entirely up to the producer to minimize damage to image or revenue.

In a case like Cai Ma, whether Thien An's role is cut or kept, losses are inevitable. No one wants a film - the result of the labor of hundreds of people - to be denied or boycotted just because of one individual's private life.

From this incident, the old lesson is still valid: producers need to be careful in choosing actors, not only in terms of acting ability but also in terms of public image. As for artists, maintaining reputation is no longer a personal matter, but a professional responsibility if they want to continue on this artistic path.

HAI DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/can-trong-voi-quyen-tay-chay-post818074.html