On the evening of August 31st, the release of Jack’s music video “Từ nơi tôi sinh ra” stirred up a storm on social media due to the unexpected appearance of football legend Lionel Messi.
The video features a brief interaction between Jack and Messi, where they exchange greetings and engage in a short conversation, lasting only around 3 to 4 seconds.
Several online sources claimed that Jack had spent a staggering 60 billion VND to secure a personal meeting with Messi, intending to incorporate the encounter into his music video. These unverified reports sparked confusion among fans and led to some unfavorable comments about the male singer.
In response to the growing speculation, Jack’s management company issued a statement to refute the false claims, stating, “The rumored expenditure involving football superstar Lionel Messi is entirely baseless. These unfounded rumors have had a significant impact on Jack and his associates.
The meeting with Lionel Messi had been arranged well in advance and was strictly limited to confirmed parties. In the age of extensive social media, it is challenging to control the spread of misinformation. We humbly request that everyone receives accurate and selective information.”
Furthermore, Jack’s legal representatives also issued a legal notice demanding that organizations and individuals cease disseminating inaccurate information through various media outlets.
During a press conference preceding the music video release, the singer from Bến Tre province expressed his fortunate connection with a friend in Vietnam who facilitated contact with Lionel Messi’s representatives. Jack’s journey to meet his idol began on May 11th when he traveled to Paris, France, for the encounter.
The singer confessed that, while on the plane, he never expected to meet Messi. However, a miracle happened, and the two shared a meal and had a conversation. This serendipitous encounter left Jack with a whirlwind of emotions.
“I’m not proficient in English, and I decided to learn Spanish a few months prior to this trip. But when meeting my idol, I forgot everything around me. I can’t recall what I said; I only remember one thing, saying in Spanish: ‘I’m very honored to meet you, and your greeting,’” Jack recounted.
In reality, during the MV release event, Jack did not mention spending 60 billion VND to invite Messi. Thus, the sudden spread of this figure on social media caught the singer off guard.
The friend who facilitated Jack’s meeting with Messi is businessman Phạm Ngọc Quốc Cường, known for his connections with international football stars. He frequently shares video clips of interactions with famous foreign players on his social media accounts.
In response to the viral social media rumors, Phạm Ngọc Quốc Cường clarified the information on his personal page. He affirmed that he had met various football superstars worldwide and had been present at all major encounters, including those with Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Haaland.
“I’m just following my passion and making it a reality, trying to expand relationships and bring Vietnam’s image to the world. However, there’s recently been an issue affecting my image and relationships with players and their representatives, which could tarnish the image of Vietnam. That’s the story about paying money to players to meet and take photos.
Here, I can confirm that this is not the case. Foreign players are all multi-millionaires in USD. They don’t need these small sums for meetings or anything of the sort. People can think for themselves…” the businessman shared.
The claims of Jack spending 60 billion VND to meet Lionel Messi appear to be unfounded, and both Jack’s management company and Phạm Ngọc Quốc Cường have refuted these allegations.
The sensational rumors have highlighted the challenge of controlling the spread of misinformation in the age of social media.
