No fame, talent or legacy can excuse a crime

THE HANOI TIMES — The arrest of fashion designer Nguyen Cong Tri on charges related to drug use and trafficking has sent shockwaves in Vietnam.

Renowned globally for his striking couture designs, which grace the red carpets of international events, Tri is one of a select group of Vietnamese creatives to have made a name for themselves on the world stage.

His downfall has therefore not only triggered disbelief but also a wave of misguided sympathy.

Let's be clear: this is not an article about Nguyen Cong Tri. Whether or not he is guilty will be determined by the law.

Here, we are concerned with the disturbing pattern that emerges in the wake of such arrests: the instinctive, uncritical defense of the accused by friends, fans, and even fellow celebrities.

Several have rushed online to publicly shield him from scrutiny.

One beauty queen compared his arrest to being 'struck by misfortune', as if he were a victim of a natural disaster.

A social media influencer wrote a lengthy post attacking the media for 'humiliating' Tri and suggesting that drug use is a private, inconsequential matter.

The post has since been hidden, but the message lingers. Another commenter even stated that 'most drug users don’t harm anyone but themselves'.

This mindset is irresponsible. It is also dangerous.

We understand the impulse to protect someone you know. When people close to us are caught up in a scandal, it is only natural to want to defend them.

However, we must never allow sympathy to blind us to the facts, especially in matters of public interest.

Tri is not accused of jaywalking. He is being investigated for an alleged felony related to drugs. This is a crime with devastating consequences, affecting not only the user but entire communities.

Let's not forget the toll that drugs take on society. Look at Colombia, where drug trafficking has sparked decades of violence and killing.

In January alone, some 32,000 people were displaced by clashes between criminal gangs.

Vietnam has also endured its suffering. Many brave officers from the country’s anti-narcotics forces have lost their lives in the line of duty, including one who died in April while pursuing traffickers.

These are lives. Every defense we raise for those who flout drug laws dishonors these sacrifices.

The damage hits closer to home, too. I know the tragedy of drug abuse firsthand. One of my relatives is currently on death row for trafficking. Another, who has been addicted for a long time, has wasted away into a frail, hollow shell of a person.

Many Vietnamese families know this pain, selling off assets to support a child’s addiction and suffering financial ruin and the heartbreak of watching a loved one waste away.

Some bury their children before their time. Others are destroyed from the inside, their families torn apart by shame, loss and grief.

These are not just “personal choices”. They constitute a crime with severe social consequences. Drug abuse is therefore a public threat.

A Facebook user named Ton Tri Kien put it best when he asked: 'Have those defending Tri ever witnessed the destruction of drug addiction firsthand? Have they ever seen children become orphaned, families torn apart, and futures ruined?

If they had seen families breaking up due to illegal drug use, perhaps they wouldn’t be so quick to shield those under investigation.

We must draw a line. No amount of talent or past achievements can absolve someone of criminal responsibility. Past good deeds do not grant immunity in the present.

One cannot 'trade' past contributions for current impunity. This is not how justice works. Every citizen is equal under the law, and no one is above it.

And yet, when celebrities fall from grace, some people are quick to create a moral safety net for them, woven from nostalgia, admiration, and personal loyalty. This is a grave mistake.

The more famous and influential a person is, the greater their responsibility to society. As public figures, their actions have a wide-reaching impact on culture and behavior, especially among young people.

When a celebrity is caught using or trafficking drugs and their supporters portray it as a 'private matter', they are normalizing the unacceptable.

They send the message that brilliance can excuse wrongdoing and that success entitles one to make mistakes without facing consequences.

Let's be blunt: influence is a form of power. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.

If you hold sway over public opinion and young people look up to you, every step you take carries weight.

You cannot afford to make careless mistakes, especially ones that breach the law and endanger lives.

There is a profound difference between private failure and public crime. Drug offenses are not 'personal decisions' that society should overlook. They are violations of both law and ethics.

When celebrities are involved, the harm is multiplied, not only through the direct consequences of their actions, but also through the dangerous idea that stardom offers protection.

We must resist this idea at all costs. The moment we start forgiving crimes based on fame, we undermine the principle of equality before the law.

We create a two-tier system in which ordinary people are punished and elites are coddled. That is not justice.

There can be no exemptions in a civilized society. The higher the pedestal, the more carefully one must stand upon it.

Success must never shield criminal behavior. Public sympathy should not provide a soft landing for those who betray the public’s trust.

If we truly want a healthy, just, and ethical society, we must stop excusing wrongdoing in the name of fame. Talent should inspire admiration, not immunity.

To tolerate anything less is to chip away at the very foundations of social trust. And that is a price no society should be willing to pay.