"The Long Slip" from the Thuy Tien and Quang Linh Vlogs Case - Lessons for Celebrities

When celebrities forget boundaries

According to the investigation of the Ministry of Public Security , the Kera vegetable candy product by Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company was advertised by many KOLs, selling more than 135,000 boxes to the market with a total revenue of nearly 18 billion VND. Of which, Miss Thuy Tien alone received nearly 7 billion VND in commission. The product was promoted as a natural green vegetable supplement candy that could replace real vegetables, despite not having any scientific verification or professional certification.

Miss Thuy Tien and Quang Linh Vlogs were prosecuted in connection with Kera vegetable candy.

The truth was only revealed when a TikToker named "Vegetarian Lion" (Quach Thanh Lam) had the product tested and discovered the violation. The police then prosecuted many defendants, including Thuy Tien, Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang Du Muc for "Producing fake food products" and "Deceiving customers".

Thuy Tien was once Miss Grand International 2021 - a representative image of beauty and kindness. Quang Linh Vlogs was once famous for a series of charity videos in Africa, receiving the love of the online community for inspiring a beautiful life. But the ease in choosing promotional products caused all three to lose their reputation after a short time.

Lawyer Pham Van Thanh ( Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association) said: "Many artists and KOLs still think that advertising is a simple job, without responsibility. That is a misconception. If they receive advertising money for harmful products, they can be completely prosecuted according to the law."

The lesson of the Kera case is clear: celebrities cannot live above the law. They have not only moral but also legal responsibilities if they use their fame to facilitate wrongdoing. Excuses such as “it was just paid advertising” or “I don’t know the quality of the product” are no longer reasons to avoid responsibility.

Responsibility is not only on celebrities

Ms. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, said that in the era of strong social network development, controlling false advertising on digital platforms has become very urgent. However, the responsibility belongs to the whole system: businesses, advertising censorship agencies and state management agencies.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department, said that it is necessary to perfect the specialized legal system on food safety. It is necessary to continue to review, evaluate and promptly amend and supplement legal documents related to food safety and to ensure the management principles throughout the entire process from production, processing, transportation, business to consumers.

From the Kera candy case to "hundred-use" medicinal products, fake milk, skin-whitening supplements... more and more celebrities are being accused of promoting illegal products. The cases of Thuy Tien and Quang Linh Vlogs are just the tip of the iceberg.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Tieu-diem-van-hoa/cu-truot-dai-tu-vu-thuy-tien-quang-linh-vlogs-bai-hoc-voi-nguoi-noi-tieng-i769088/