This morning, a nearly one-minute clip of YouTuber Thơ Nguyễn asking a doll for good luck in school went viral on social media. In the video, Thơ Nguyễn holds a doll named Cư Ma Mập, calling herself “mom” and the doll “child”:
“Mập, listen to mom now. Tomorrow the older kids go to school, so I pray that they do well. If the doll nods sideways, it means yes, if it nods up and down, no. Just shake it all around. Shake it or I’ll give you a spanking!”
After being posted, the clip faced intense backlash from netizens, especially parents whose children often watch her channel. Many accused Thơ Nguyễn of subtly promoting the practice of raising Kumanthong dolls (originating from Thailand and treated like living beings). Concerns grew that the video could negatively influence and confuse young viewers.
Recently, she posted an explanation video on TikTok. While acknowledging her audience includes many adults, Thơ Nguyễn still addressed viewers as “older sister” to “younger siblings”:
“This might be my last video and the end of my video-making career. After many asked about Cư Ma Mập, I made the clip just for fun. Because TikTok limits video length, I had to split it into two parts. Many only saw the first part, which caused parents to misunderstand me. In the second video, I emphasized that to do well in school, you need to work hard and study.”
“If I was doing YouTube just for myself, I would have quit a long time ago since I have the financial means and a university degree to do other jobs. But I think if I have the ability to earn money, why not do it to pay taxes and support kids and the elderly?”
“But from now on, I will stop making videos and take a break. Please don’t boycott me, I’m stopping on my own.”
Of course, many parents see her explanation as an excuse and hope authorities will step in with timely measures to prevent similar incidents.
