Le Quyen's paradox
This is not the first time Le Quyen has cursed, even uttered harsh words, cursing antifan accounts (not fans) on social networks.
When participating in "Sisters Who Make Waves" season 1 in 2023, Le Quyen was involved in discord with a singer who participated in the program. Related to these controversies, Le Quyen indulged in one-on-one arguments with the audience.
For many years, Le Quyen has always maintained the "habit" of arguing side by side, uttering harsh words, even cursing "the whole big family" of antifan accounts.
Le Quyen believes that audiences (anonymous accounts) have the right to scold her, why doesn't she have the right to swear back?
Many media experts have assessed that Le Quyen lost her image when spending time arguing with virtual accounts on social networks. However, despite being assessed as having these scandals as a media crisis, losing her image, Le Quyen is always in high demand.
Le Quyen herself has affirmed that the force of anti-fans "biting" cannot make her lose shows, cannot shake her position, because Le Quyen's audience is "educated class".
Talking to Lao Dong reporters, explaining why Le Quyen, despite swearing and cursing on social networks, is still in high demand, media expert Tam An analyzed the difference between online (online) and offline (live) audiences.
According to expert Tam An, "Le Quyen's case shows a paradox: Despite being heavily criticized on Facebook or TikTok, the nights of this female singer at the tea room are still frequently sold out".
The online community (online audience) often reacts according to temporary emotions and the algorithm amplifies controversy. This audience is not the main target audience in Le Quyen's bolero music market segment.
Offline audiences - those who directly spend money to buy Le Quyen's show tickets - have more pragmatic evaluation criteria.
Le Quyen's customer base (audience) is mainly middle-aged, high-income groups, they come to this female singer because of her voice and do not care about what happens online" - the expert analyzed.
This mismatch explains why Le Quyen's commercial value is still standing firm even though her image is affected.
From a media perspective, this case is a typical lesson about the collision between administrative management regulations, market reality and personal brand positioning strategies.
These paradoxes will have to change when the cultural industry and performing arts industry are promoted, and at the same time, functional agencies tighten the management of artists in terms of ethics - when they are influential people.
It's time to change
Sharing with Lao Dong reporters, communication expert Duc Phong (Communication Director of a entertainment company in Ho Chi Minh City) said that the involvement of functional agencies (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports) is a "market signal" of strong transformation.
In the entertainment economy, the credit rating of artists is not only measured by the number of fans (fans) but also by the level of safety (Brand Safety).
Major organizing units and brands are very allergic to artists whose legal records are not clean," Mr. Duc Phong emphasized.
Once artists are on the reminder list, the risk of performance licenses and the risk of chain reactions from the public will increase. Even if artists have financial autonomy, they still need infrastructure to operate. If performance venues or social media platforms are tightened management at the request of functional agencies, the "bloodstream" connecting artists with the audience will be congested, creating significant economic isolation.
Both experts agree that the trend of artists revealing true personality is inevitable in the digital age, but "living true" does not mean lack of control.
Expert Tam An warned about the "psychological contract" between artists and the public: "Le Quyen positions music and images with luxury. When everyday personality arises too clearly on social networks, it creates emotional disparity. If this truth breaks the core image for too long, it will transform from controversy to a crisis of trust.
Agreeing with this view, expert Duc Phong believes that administrative sanctions will force artists to "professionalize" rebellion. Instead of making emotional statements, large-scale artists will have to learn how to "rebel within the framework" and use a team of consultants to review the content.
To go further, artists need to transform personality energy into art instead of directly confronting public opinion. Because in the end, when stage lights turn on, music can be a lifeline, but standards are what maintain a sustainable aura.
