During a major televised awards ceremony on Sunday, prominent host Bob Lam achieved a career milestone by winning the “Best Male Host” award, only to have the triumphant moment instantly turn viral when he accidentally shattered the trophy on stage, prompting widespread amusement and subsequently raising questions about the authenticity of the accolades presented during the broadcast. Lam, visibly overwhelmed with emotion following his first win, emphatically placed the award on a nearby table, inadvertently causing the object to break into two pieces, drawing immediate laughter from the audience and a playful reprimand from presenter Wong Cho-lam.
The unexpected incident at the TVB Anniversary Awards, often dubbed the “Milky Way Awards” of Hong Kong television, quickly became a trending topic across social media platforms, shifting the public focus from Lam’s achievement to the structural integrity of the prize itself. Given the highly publicized nature of the televised moment, media outlets sought clarification on whether the trophy Lam handled was the official, genuine award.
In response to the inquiry, the Corporate Communications Department for TVB confirmed that, for specific ceremonies involving awards potentially containing significant valuables, it is standard procedure to use replicas during the live broadcast. Management explained that this protocol is primarily implemented for practical considerations related to security and safety during the high-pressure, live event environment.
The network elaborated that for prizes made from costly materials such as pure gold, diamonds, or precious gemstones, a replica is often utilized during the presentation and photographic opportunities on stage. Following the initial presentation, the corporation undertakes the process of engraving the winner’s name onto the genuine award. This authentic, personalized trophy is then officially delivered to the recipient at a later date for permanent safekeeping.
Specifically addressing the recent event, TVB stated that all trophies distributed during the “Anniversary Awards 2025” ceremony were temporary replicas. These items served as props for filming and immediate photographic purposes. The company guaranteed that every winner will receive an official, permanent genuine trophy, meticulously engraved with their name, to serve as a proper memento of their achievement.
The incident, while embarrassing for Lam and highly entertaining for viewers, provided a rare public glimpse into the stringent security and logistical protocols employed by major networks when handling high-value awards on a massive scale. It underscores the operational distinctions between a public, dramatic presentation moment and the careful, private conferral of a genuinely valuable object. Lam, who was teased good-naturedly by Cho-lam for being the first person in the network’s history to break an award on stage, is still set to receive his official, intact, genuine “Best Male Host” trophy soon.
