Brian Jeffrey
The service provider has apologized formally and refunded the excess charges after meeting with the streaming team.
On September 15, local police confirmed the citation of V.P.Q.M., a 23-year-old from District 4. M. runs a hoverboard rental business on Nguyen Hue Walking Street and was penalized for overcharging the streamer IShowSpeed during his visit on September 14.
M. faced a fine of 10 million VND for two infractions: “unauthorized use of city roads and sidewalks for business” and “selling items without proper documentation.”
The hoverboard used for the transaction was confiscated by authorities, and M. was required to commit in writing to not engage in similar activities again.
Authorities also identified N.M.H., a 53-year-old from District 1, who was present at the time of overcharging.
H., who is acquainted with M., provided translation assistance due to M.’s limited English. He was not penalized after interviews since he wasn’t directly tied to the pricing issue.
Following a strong public backlash, which was broadcast on IShowSpeed’s YouTube channel, M. and H. visited IShowSpeed’s hotel to issue a formal apology and return the 1 million VND charged.
The incident, which occurred on the afternoon of September 14, quickly gained traction on social media, drawing attention from many Vietnamese netizens.
The event was streamed live to millions of IShowSpeed’s 29.7 million YouTube subscribers. While in Ho Chi Minh City for various events, IShowSpeed rented a hoverboard on Nguyen Hue Walking Street, only to discover he was charged 1 million VND for a brief ride, significantly higher than typical rates.
This led to widespread outrage on Vietnamese social media, with calls for immediate action. Consequently, District 1 and Ben Nghe Ward officials acted promptly by summoning those involved and addressing the situation legally. This swift response helped calm public sentiment and reinstated faith in the integrity of local business practices.
