As we reported, on October 2nd at the Indochina Trade Center, Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, a cosplay festival took place for the community of young people passionate about this art form. However, alongside the stunning cosplays, the highlight of this festival was a male student who was incredibly ‘different’.
The noteworthy aspect of this male student was his provocative outfits such as chains, ropes, and locks that only appeared in ‘adult’ films. Not only did he wear such outfits, but he also performed in tight clothing and made loud noises that not only left cosplay enthusiasts in awe but also made many parents taking their children to the festival feel uncomfortable.
The actions of this student not only tarnished the image of the cosplay festival but also directly harmed the Vietnamese gaming community, making the organizing committee unable to arrange future festivals in Hanoi. Due to the serious nature of this incident, we immediately contacted Hoang Phuong Anh (Miho Phuong Anh) – Admin of the Vietnam Cosplay Community to discuss the implications of this inappropriate cosplay behavior during the recent festival.
Could you clarify the serious nature of the real-life cosplay actions (18+) that occurred at the recent festival?
The real-life cosplay actions at the recent festival have caused Vietnamese cosplayers to no longer be allowed to participate in future festivals organized by the committee in Hanoi. Because of the male student’s actions, the organizing committee has prohibited holding events in Hanoi again.
Most of the Vietnamese cosplay community feels very upset because they are being judged based on the actions of one individual, leading to the cancellation of four festivals simply due to a four-minute video and inappropriate behavior.
From the comments surrounding this incident, we see that many people are supporting the male student, saying that his actions are completely wrong, what is the real reason behind this?
The reason is that the male student is quite famous and has a good appearance, which attracted a lot of women. Therefore, when he acted inappropriately at the festival, many young women were supportive and defended him.
As one of the leading figures in the Vietnamese cosplay community, what do you think about the Vietnamese fans who love cosplay or closer to home, the community members?
I’m not just a leading figure; I’m simply the admin of the group. I can only say that this festival was not only affected by the mistakes of the male student but also by the overwhelming support from fans who were too eager to share posts of their idol everywhere to defend him.
Alongside this, the participants at the festival also did not seem to care about the littering issues that caused the organizing committee to have to intervene without hesitation. The festival did not have a clear purpose for the participants themselves, and the focus seemed too weak, leading to missed opportunities for the male student involved in this inappropriate cosplay incident.
After this incident, what direction or vision do you have for the future of the Vietnam Cosplay community?
Moving forward, I want to focus on the awareness of cosplayers. I hope that everyone participating in the festival will have a clear purpose and create a healthy and respectful environment without littering, while also promoting the culture of 18+ content appropriately at future festivals.
Additionally, every issue has both positive and negative aspects. I just hope that everyone tries to view the situation from both sides to strengthen the Hanoi Cosplay community and the Vietnamese cosplay scene overall, helping it to thrive and improve in the eyes of many parents. However, those attending the festival should not only focus on the provocative elements but also appreciate the characters that these young people love to portray authentically, showing a genuine passion for this art form.
Finally, I hope that individuals involved in cosplay will see the beauty of this art form, and realize that it should not be judged negatively, but rather as a reflection of how individuals choose to express themselves.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and we wish the Vietnam Cosplay community a vibrant and prosperous future!
