When an artist gets involved in a scandal, who suffers the consequences?

When artists are involved in scandals, especially those related to breaking the law or drug use, it not only affects their personal brand and ruins their careers but also causes damage to many parties.

DAMAGE TO THE "PRODUCTION CHAIN"

In today's entertainment industry, which operates like a giant machine, each artist's name is not only a brand but also a link in a chain of projects, advertising contracts, television programs, films, and even the profit expectations of investors. Therefore, when an artist "falls," many parties are affected.

Miu Le in Blood Moon Party 8

PHOTO: DPCC

The case of Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien and the film "Chot Don" (Closing the Deal) is a prime example of the chain reaction resulting from personal scandals. Once considered a highly influential figure with a beautiful image, active participation, and a large fan base, Thuy Tien was expected to be a box office draw with her first leading role in a film. However, after scandals involving advertising and customer deception, she was prosecuted, immediately putting the film in a difficult position. The production team had to recalculate their communication strategy, even resorting to AI techniques to reduce the lead actress's screen time, resulting in significant additional costs… Yet, the consequences were unavoidable, with the film's quality falling short of expectations and suffering heavy losses, grossing just over 5 billion VND.

Recently, Miu Le's indictment for drug-related offenses has caused the film "Blood Moon Party 8," currently showing in theaters with rather lackluster box office results, to be further "frozen" due to a lack of audience enthusiasm. It's clear that when artists are involved in scandals, films or programs they participate in also suffer, even though the project is the result of the hard work of hundreds of people, from directors and actors to cinematographers and post-production teams.

Previously, Vietnamese showbiz has seen similar cases. Some artists, after scandals, have been cut from already filmed programs, brands have removed their advertising images en masse, and television stations have canceled broadcasts or made last-minute content edits. Many game shows have struggled when artists are involved in ethical controversies, forcing production teams to hastily cut and edit, causing financial losses and damage to product quality. As media expert Chau Quang Phuoc noted: "Most film production companies and even artist management companies are passive in terms of overall media coverage whenever a Vietnamese artist is involved in a scandal." According to Mr. Phuoc, even though these crises are resolved afterward, the involved parties still suffer "double losses."

Further elaborating on the reasons, Mr. Chau Quang Phuoc analyzed: "Film investors and producers in our country often 'bear the brunt' whenever an artist participates in a project that causes a scandal, partly because they find themselves in a situation where they are the ones who make the mistake and bear the brunt of public opinion. Another reason seems to be that the contracts between artists and producers in Vietnam don't fully anticipate all issues, such as the use of banned substances. Therefore, there aren't strong enough clauses in the contracts to warn and deter artists from participating in the projects."

WE CANNOT RELY SOLELY ON CONSCIOUSNESS

In the age of booming social media, celebrity scandals spread rapidly, and the public not only receives information but also becomes the "judge." This puts immense pressure on organizations involved in the arts.

Thuy Tien in Closing the Deal

PHOTO: DPCC

In reality, besides acting ability, some actors are chosen for films because of their media appeal, popularity, and the level of trust they inspire in the public. When they get into trouble, their commercial value immediately plummets.

Lawyer Le Trung Phat (Director of Le Trung Phat Law Firm, Ho Chi Minh City) believes that a contract should be meticulously crafted, detailed, and clear, with all necessary and decisive issues clearly stated. Therefore, production companies and producers need to be cautious in choosing their partners, including binding clauses regarding ethics and legal matters in the contract. In cases where an artist violates the contract and negatively impacts the project, the producer should promptly cooperate with the artist or their representative to address the consequences; using the contract terms to minimize losses and demonstrate responsibility and goodwill towards the audience and fans.

In many countries, it's not uncommon for artists to be removed from projects, have to pay contract compensation, or have their activities frozen after scandals. This is not only a way to protect investors but also a message about the professionalism of the entertainment industry.

"I think film studios and producers must protect themselves by strengthening the level of handling and compensation for damages in related contracts if scandals occur involving artists, instead of relying on 'emotional' opinions and expecting the artists to act on their conscience. In the long run, we also need to create a media environment similar to the models in South Korea and China. That is, whenever an artist causes a scandal in any form, they will automatically face strong public boycotts; alongside strong legal action and deterrence against their violations," said Mr. Chau Quang Phuoc.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghe-si-dinh-be-boi-ai-va-lay-185260531205255906.htm