Pop star fined $3,000 for ‘suicidal’ MV

‘There’s No One At All’, Tung’s first English MV, contains images, actions, means of expression, and forms of performance that carry negative and inappropriate messages related to ethics, community health, and socio-psychology, Pham Cao Thai, chief inspector of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said.

The MV features an orphan who is lonely and ostracized growing up, instilling a rebellious streak in him. The video ends with him jumping off a tall building.

The Department of Performing Arts under the culture ministry requested that the MV be taken offline on April 29, half a day after its release, for containing “negative, non-educational messages.”

The department said the music video, released Thursday night, carried “negative, non-educational messages with scenes of violence, chases and destruction, ending with a character committing suicide.”

The video has greatly impacted viewers and can promote “negative behavior” in society, especially among children, the department said.

Luu Dinh Phuc, head of the broadcasting authority, said they have requested Google, the platform where the video was uploaded, to take it down.

Son Tung M-TP made a public apology on the evening of April 29.

“I am aware of my position and the impact I have on young people. I am always striving to instill good values in society and the country,” he said.

There are always hidden messages and inner depths in his MV, which the artist placed throughout the video in order for the audience to find and feel his art, Tung added.

“I hope that through my MV, more people will understand the feelings inside lonely people and their need to be loved and protected. We need to open our hearts to them before it’s too late. You are not alone, there are many people like you,” the singer said, explaining the motifs behind the MV.

Some people believe that rather than being banned, the MV should be labeled with age warnings for visual content when viewed.

Son Tung M-TP, whose real name is Nguyen Thanh Tung, is one of Vietnam’s biggest pop stars. The singer from the northern province of Thai Binh has won an MTV Europe Music Award and was included in the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Vietnam.