TikToker Pham Thoai sparks controversy after smashing television

Following the Miss Grand International 2026 finale, where Vietnam's Emoura Pham was crowned 4th runner-up, TikToker Pham Thoai drew significant social media attention for posting a video of himself smashing a large television screen.

The act, purportedly a reaction to the pageant results, has ignited debate regarding whether the behavior was a genuine emotional outburst or a calculated 'rage-bait' tactic designed to drive engagement. Media experts, including Associate Professor Nguyen Van Thang Long from RMIT University Vietnam, noted that such shock tactics are increasingly used by content creators to trigger audience reactions and increase views.

The video and subsequent photos of the broken device have garnered thousands of likes and tens of thousands of views across TikTok and Facebook, prompting warnings about the impact of shock-driven content on younger audiences.