In a social media post by comedian Thuy Nga, which featured a conversation between her, Lynda and singer Quang Le, Lynda described the incident as “an immense stroke of bad luck” and said the past few days had been emotionally difficult.

“I did not expect this to become such a big issue, and so many people have been reaching out. But amid the pain, I feel happy knowing that people care about me,” she said. “I was moved to tears, never expecting to receive so much love.”

She added that she plans to meet with fellow artists soon to provide a clearer explanation of the situation.

According to Orange County Clerk of Courts records, on Jan. 4, Lynda purchased two bottles of perfume at a Gucci store. She then took an AirPods case worth US$330 from the counter, concealed it under her belongings, and left without paying. When she returned the next day, she was arrested.

Lynda claimed she had left the item at the checkout counter, but store employees reviewed security footage and reported that she had not returned it. She later explained that she had been in a hurry and dropped it on the floor.

She was released on bail on Jan. 6.

Before the incident, Lynda led a low-profile life in the U.S., frequently traveling for her shows while recently shifting her focus to the food business.

Lynda, 57, was born in the central city of Hue, Vietnam, and moved to the U.S. with her family in the 1970s.

Known for her dynamic stage presence, she was often compared to Madonna. She is married to Vietnamese-born singer Tommy Ngo.