Ministry of Culture speaks out about petition to revoke Hoai Linh's Meritorious Artist title

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just sent an official dispatch to the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City regarding the transfer of a petition from an individual named NTTH. This person submitted a petition to Ho Chi Minh City Television, the Department of Performing Arts, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requesting the authorities to consider revoking the title of Meritorious Artist of artist Hoai Linh. The petition also requested a ban on television programs and internet publications featuring artist Hoai Linh.

The representative of the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared that because the petition was sent to the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism transferred it back to the department for proper authority.

A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports said that they had received an official dispatch from the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "The Department's Board of Directors has assigned specialized agencies to coordinate in reviewing, verifying and reporting to the Ministry and the Ministry's Inspectorate according to their authority. We will respond when we have official information," the representative said.

Comedian Hoai Linh (real name Vo Nguyen Hoai Linh - drama actor of Nu Cuoi Moi Drama Theater), is on the list of 25 individuals awarded the title of Meritorious Artist for the 8th time - 2015. This is the first case of an overseas artist being proposed for the title of Meritorious Artist.

At that time, comedian Hoai Linh happily shared: "I was really touched when I received this news. This is a great honor for an overseas artist returning to his homeland to serve the audience like me. Compared to the dedication of many other artists, I feel that I am still new and have not achieved many achievements. But being trusted by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, this nomination is also a happiness, fueling my love for the profession so that I can continue to strive for my career as well as the work of training and guiding other young actors."

Comedian Hoai Linh has been embroiled in controversy over the delay in disbursing more than 13 billion VND in donations from benefactors to support flood victims in the Central region recently. The comedian explained that the delay was due to the pandemic, and that he had planned to represent the benefactors to support the Central region but was delayed. Some people sympathized with this explanation, but others did not, saying that it was a "sophistication".

Most recently, on his personal page, actor Doan Minh Tai expressed that he earnestly begged everyone not to use harsh words towards artist Hoai Linh. "The past few days have been enough. Tai is an outsider, when reading such hurtful comments, he can't bear to say anything, let alone Linh? If Linh is wrong, let the court of conscience and the law judge, okay? And here, Tai would like to send a message to his brothers, sisters, friends and colleagues. If you can't protect each other, you should keep quiet. Please don't trample on the pain and loss of others to take away peace for yourself. Because it is fragile, easy to take and easy to lose," Minh Tai wrote.