“I have never claimed to be famous, but I am still a public figure, so how could I possibly engage in shoplifting?” she told Read during her first public comments on the matter.

Records from the Orange County Clerk of Courts show that on Jan. 4, Lynda purchased two bottles of perfume at a local Gucci store. It was then that she took an AirPods case valued at US$330 from the counter, concealed it under her belongings, and departed without paying. She returned the following day and 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. Her attorney filed a motion for dismissal on Jan. 16, which resulted in her hearing scheduled for Jan. 21 being canceled.

Lynda explained that she had visited the Gucci store just two hours before her performance to buy gifts for a longtime fan.

“While waiting for the staff to retrieve my items, I browsed other things at the checkout counter,” she recounted. “When the two perfume bottles were ready, I was relieved and hurried out of the store to change for my performance.”

Describing an encounter with a staff member, Lynda said she quickly grabbed her receipt, but the staff member thought she had bumped into her intentionally.

“She called the police, but I had already left quickly, so they did not find me.”

The singer explained that in her rush, she did not realize she was still holding the AirPods case along with her phone. It was only after her performance that she discovered the case in her suitcase and realized she had not paid for it.

“The next day, I asked a friend to drive me back to the store to return the mistakenly taken item,” she said. “However, by then, the staff member had already informed security that I had stolen from the store.”

Lynda added that since there were people at the site, she did not want to argue to avoid causing a scene, so she went to the police station with officers to sort things out. There, the officers took her photo for records.

“I was not handcuffed or detained,” she noted. “I sat for a few hours giving my statement, after which I paid US$1,000 to the police to leave without having to wait to call a relative for bail.”

Reflecting on the incident, Lynda described it as a “misunderstanding” caused by her hasty and forgetful nature. She noted that everyone who knows her is aware of her scatterbrained tendencies, often having to search everywhere for her belongings.

“Once, I tried on a bracelet in a store and forgot to take it off, and when a staff member reminded me, I immediately returned it and apologized, thanking them for their polite reminder,” she said.

Lynda dismissed online comments labeling her a “thief” or suggesting she has a psychological disorder involving stealing as “ridiculous.”

“Every month, I volunteer and help those less fortunate far more than the US$330 value of that AirPods case,” she asserted. “There’s no reason for me to steal something like that.”

She stated that she had entrusted her lawyer to resolve her case with the court.

On a positive note, the incident also garnered a lot of support for her, with her relatives showing support, while her father, husband, and children refrained from inquiring her about the incident, knowing it would upset her further. Her career remains unaffected, she stated.

She added that the incident taught her how to remain calm and strong in all situations, which helps her to overcome adversity.

“I hope the court will clearly conclude the incident and provide me with a document proving my innocence so I can regain my dignity and peace and continue to be motivated to help others,” she concluded.

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 is often compared to Madonna and is married to Vietnamese-born singer Tommy Ngo.