On the evening of August 23, the singer took responsibility for his inappropriate behavior on the military-themed reality show, pledging to learn from the experience. In a video posted on his personal page, he stated: "I only wish for more time to prove that my participation in the program is to change myself. I will absorb the feedback and strive to live by the true spirit of a soldier: responsibility, discipline, and never giving up."

Previously, during the second episode of the program, Erik faced criticism for his slow pace, heavy makeup, and lack of integration. Specifically, he hesitated and appeared sad when required to cut his hair short according to military regulations, expressing concern about its impact on his personal artistic projects. Later, at lunchtime, the singer caused the entire platoon to wait under the sun for more than 20 minutes due to his late arrival. This situation reoccurred in the afternoon, leading to a stern reprimand from the commander.

Explaining the controversy, Erik shared that he was sheltered by his family since childhood, prompting his decision to join Sao Nhap Ngu to challenge himself and mature. While he mentally prepared for the mandatory haircut, he could not control his emotions during the process. Regarding his punctuality issues, the singer admitted that his habit of late living for over 20 years was a major mistake, affecting the collective, and he had apologized to his commander.

Singer Erik in episode two of "Sao Nhap Ngu". Photo: Provided by organizers

Erik, whose real name is Le Trung Thanh, is 29 years old and hails from Ha Noi. After leaving the boy band Monstar, he gained recognition through numerous songs such as "Lac nhau co phai muon doi", "Yeu chua bao gio la sai", "Cham day noi dau", and "Em khong sai chung ta sai". In 2021, he participated in "The Heroes" program, winning the championship with notable songs like "Nam quoc son ha" and "Mau do da vang".

Sao Nhap Ngu 2026 features actor Quoc Truong, Thuy Ngan, Minh Trang, musician Phan Manh Quynh, singer Van Mai Huong, Erik, fashionista Chau Bui, and content creator Tuan Duong. During the show, the artists spend seven days becoming real soldiers, adhering to military rules, routines, training, and discipline.

After seven years and 15 seasons, Sao Nhap Ngu has become one of the most popular reality television programs, previously recognized in the "Inspirational Television Program" category at Vietnam iContent 2025. Beyond television broadcasts, the producers have organized two concerts, attracting tens of thousands of viewers in TP HCM and Ha Noi.

Hoang Dung