A legal battle unfolded on the afternoon of 9/9 at the People's Court of Area 1 - Ho Chi Minh City, involving Celeb Group Co., Ltd. (Celeb Group) as the plaintiff and singer Le Truc Phuong, 28, known as Choco Truc Phuong. The lawsuit centers on an exclusive contract for artist investment, training, and management.
Truc Phuong gained prominence through trending TikTok videos before launching her singing career. She released the songs "Nguoi Yeu Khong Da" in 2022 and "Body Shaming" in 2023.
During the court proceedings, Celeb Group reiterated its demand for the singer to pay over 3,4 billion VND in compensation. Truc Phuong, however, disagreed with the claims and requested the court to affirm her right to manage the disputed TikTok account, "letrucphuong1003".
Who owns the TikTok account?
Court documents indicate that Truc Phuong signed a three-year exclusive contract with Celeb Group in 3/2021, agreeing to receive investment, training, and management for her entertainment activities.
The company asserts that during their collaboration, Truc Phuong achieved significant success across online platforms. Her song "Nguoi Yeu Khong Da" garnered over 1 million listens on Spotify, and "Body Shaming" accumulated over 2 billion views on TikTok, making it a top search in China and charting on Shazam in 4 countries.
However, Celeb Group alleges that from 10/2023, Truc Phuong began refusing to honor numerous advertising contracts signed by the company on behalf of various brands. This refusal, the company claims, risks substantial revenue loss and reputational damage.
The plaintiff also accused the singer of creating and using a TikTok account independently, separate from the three accounts managed under their contract. Celeb Group stated it repeatedly requested the closure of this account or confirmation of it being an impersonation, but these requests were ignored.
Celeb Group maintains that, based on their agreement, the "letrucphuong1003" account is company property, and this ownership right remains valid even after the contract's termination.
Truc Phuong refutes this assertion, stating that "letrucphuong1003" is her personal account, which she uses to post music content and interact with her audience. The singer has requested the court to confirm her management rights over the account.
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Singer, TikToker Choco Truc Phuong. |
Dispute over 3,4 billion VND
Beyond the TikTok account dispute, Celeb Group is seeking over 3,4 billion VND in compensation from Truc Phuong. This amount includes 1,5 billion VND for breach of contract penalties, 345 million VND for damages related to the unfulfilled advertising contracts, and 1,6 billion VND for alleged investment and training costs.
Conversely, Truc Phuong is demanding the company pay her over 40 million VND in outstanding remuneration.
Celeb Group acknowledged not having paid this amount, attributing it to the ongoing dispute. The company stated it would offset this sum if the court determines Truc Phuong must pay compensation.
The singer's lawyer has requested the plaintiff to provide concrete evidence of actual damages and to clarify the basis for the over 1,6 billion VND claimed for investment, training, and coaching.
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Choco Truc Phuong and her representative in court today. *Photo: Binh Nguyen* |
Court requests clarification on 7 advertising contracts
During the hearing, the Judicial Council focused on clarifying 7 advertising contracts for which Celeb Group claims over 345 million VND in damages due to Truc Phuong's non-cooperation.
The presiding judge specifically requested identification of which contracts were formally signed with partners and which remained in the discussion phase. The company was also instructed to provide detailed information and confirmations from partners regarding the execution of these agreements.
After several hours of proceedings, the Judicial Council decided to temporarily adjourn the trial to allow for further verification and collection of additional documents and evidence. The date for the resumption of the hearing will be announced later.
The lawsuit was initially transferred from the People's Court of Area 1 to the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City because TikTok operates as a foreign enterprise platform. In 9/2025, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City commenced the trial but subsequently determined that the dispute arose solely between two domestic parties, lacking any foreign elements. Consequently, the case was transferred back to the People's Court of Area 1 for resolution.
*Binh Nguyen*
