Hip-hop concert organizer fined for steamy performances

The live concert, called KOSMIK, took place in November last year in HCMC with 5,000 fans. The authorities said the concert “used inappropriate outfits, words, sounds, images, movements, means of expression and performances that go against the fine customs and traditions of Vietnam,” which violated government regulations.

In the concert, rapper Binz performed with a foreign female dancer wearing a see-through, flimsy piece of lingerie. At the end of the performance, Binz poured beer on her body and the audience screamed in excitement.

During a performance by singer Justatee, a dancer in a tight leather outfit gyrated on the piano. Then she stepped down, tied the singer’s hands behind the chair, blindfolded him and made sexy movements with other male dancers.

In addition, there are three performances in the concert that were not included in the content approved by the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports.

Pham Van Dung, Chief Inspector of the department, said that the organizer of the concert, FansViet Co. Ltd, has paid the fine and was suspended from organizing events for 18 months, starting December 14, 2022.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports, said that the program showed signs of violating the country’s customs and traditions and “negatively affecting social morality.”

The KOSMIK live concert was held to celebrate the 11th anniversary of SpaceSpeakers, with performances by 11 members. Prior to the concert, the organizer said that the show is for people who are over 18 and asked concert-goers to bring their IDs.

SpaceSpeakers was founded in 2011 by famous Vietnamese music producer Touliver. Since then, it has established itself as the biggest musical collective in Vietnam, helping to popularize the hip-hop and R&B genres in the country.