Dak Lak authorities revoke KOL credentials following festival controversy

The Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has revoked the KOL credentials of a TikToker following a controversy during a rehearsal for the Dak Lak Durian Festival 2026. The incident occurred during a rehearsal for a Guinness World Record attempt involving a convoy of approximately 500 pickup trucks carrying durians on Vo Nguyen Giap Street in Buon Ma Thuot.

A video surfaced on social media showing a man wearing an official KOL badge standing in the back of a pickup truck using profanity and making inappropriate remarks. The individual, identified as the owner of the TikTok account F. V. V. with over 100,000 followers, was criticized for behavior that many felt negatively impacted the image of the festival and the province.

Following an investigation, authorities required the TikToker to write a formal commitment and issue a public apology to the community. The department noted that the behavior stemmed from immaturity and a lack of awareness regarding the responsibilities of a Key Opinion Leader. The individual has since removed the video and posted an apology, admitting the content was impolite and insensitive.