Organizer of offensive Ao yem show fined 85 million VND, suspended for 18 months

The show unit with the model wearing a revealing ao yem was fined 85 million VND and suspended for 18 months.

On the afternoon of June 15, at a regular press conference, a representative of the city's Department of Culture and Sports said that the authorities had fined Objoff Limited Liability Company - the organizer of the New Tradition show. In addition to being banned from operating for 18 months, this unit was also fined VND85 million, as follows: propose previously of the Department.

The show was assessed by the authorities as "using costumes, words, sounds, images, movements, means of expression, and forms of performance that are contrary to the nation's traditions and customs" (violating Clause 7, Article 11, Decree No. 38/2021 on the field of advertising culture).

Mr. Lam Ngo Hoang Anh - Chief of Office of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City - said that the management agency is coordinating with relevant parties to review and handle units with similar violations. The Department also coordinates with the Department of Information and Communications to handle and prevent offensive images of the show went viral.

The author of the yếm collection received backlash in the "New Tradition" show during the "Perfect Ambassador" competition in 2021. Photo: Milor Tran

The show was held on May 6 in Thu Duc city, showcasing designs by Tuong Danh - introduced as a young designer. Afterwards, on social media, images of models wearing conical hats, yem shirts, and stylized ao dai appeared while performing, exposing their backs and buttocks.

The incident caused outrage among many audiences and people in the fashion industry. Designer Ha Nhat Tien objected to the use of shocking images to attribute innovation to culture. Designer Si Hoang said that we should not use national culture as inspiration to create arbitrarily. He considered the performance of stylized ao yem with underwear as in the show "unacceptable", because ao yem was originally a woman's undergarment in the past, and was mostly used at home or in private places.

In mid-May, the author said the controversial outfit was just a small part of the collection. Tuong Danh explained that he was inspired by the traditional ao yem to make the dress. Nguyen Tuong Danh, from Lam Dong, attracted attention when competing in the transgender beauty pageant Perfect Ambassador in 2021, was on Kieu Loan's team, but did not advance. In addition to modeling, Tuong Danh designs fashion and works as a stylist.

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