BOW GETS SHIRTY, PREGNANT PAUSE, BREAST INTENTIONS
Por’s wife rejects promotion plan
Ailing actor Tridsadee “Por” Sahawong’s wife has discouraged plans by fanclub members to produce T-shirts in her daughter’s name, saying the family hasn’t authorised such a step.
As the Channel 3 actor battles complications of dengue fever in a city hospital, his wife, Bow, says the family is wary of claims it is trying to exploit publicity about his illness.
Since Por’s admission to hospital in early November, she and her family have battled to keep their spirits up, she wrote on social media last week.
She knows many Thais care for her husband and have taken a shine to their two-year-old daughter, Nong Mali, whose visits to her ailing father in hospital draw wide publicity.
However, she said she doesn’t need the added bother of fanclub members making unauthorised printed T-shirts of Nong Mali, as they could lead to suggestions the family is trying to make money from Por’s illness.
Bow spoke out after an administrator of a fanclub page on Facebook, “Nong Mali Pakwan Sahawong”, one of many that have sprouted up in the popular youngster’s name, published a print of a white T-shirt bearing Nong Mali’s image.
“Many people have asked for these, so we’ll arrange it,” it said.
The page has 281,775 followers, though after Bow intervened, asking the page administrator to get in touch, the page was promptly taken down.
“Thank you to everyone who cares for Nong Mali, and to the page admin who arranged the T-shirts. But it would be even better if the admin were to get in contact or ask permission before making the shirts,” Bow wrote.
“With Por as sick as he is, we’re not doing too well as a family. We’re in a bad enough mental state without this adding to it. Many people have asked us if we are now selling T-shirts of Mali. We feel bad because Por hasn’t yet recovered. We don’t want this kind of situation.”
Far from being behind the T-shirt plan, she said her family does not know who is responsible for the T-shirt offer.
Welcoming Bow’s intervention, netizens say her comments could help add a touch of realism to recent coverage of Por’s plight.
Netizens have criticised reporters staked out at the hospital for making a nuisance of themselves, and even placing Nong Mali’s health at risk by encouraging her to sing and perform for them in an environment where she is likely to encounter germs.
“Whenever publicity arises like this, someone will always turn up trying to cash in on it. But in some matters it’s not right to make money from someone else’s fame,” one wrote.
Another netizen, springing to Nong Mali’s defence, wrote: “Well done, Bow. If the page admin is truly innocent of heart she’ll get in touch. We love Nong Mali, and are prepared to do what we can to protect her.”
Dealing with a mixed reception
Actress Sumontip “Koop Kip” Leuangthai and her singer boyfriend Thassapak “Bie” Hsu are meeting a mixed reception to news that she is pregnant outside marriage.
Thai-Taiwanese singer Bie, 25, winner of the KPN singing award, came forward last week to admit his girlfriend Koop Kip was 10 weeks’ pregnant.
A day earlier, rumours emerged in the media that an actress, identified only by her first initial, K, was pregnant.
Bie said he was surprised the media heard the news so fast, as he had found out Koop Kip was pregnant only four or five days before. Koop Kip, 27, formally declared on social media they were an item on her birthday in July, though they had met some months before.
He was coy on whether the pregnancy was planned, saying true love neither moves too fast or too slow. However, he said both his family and hers were delighted with the news.
“When I heard she was pregnant, I cried tears of joy. It’s great news. It’s about destiny, not about whether we intended to have a child or not,” he said.
“We have been engaged two or three months and now plan to get married. I asked her mother if I could take care of her.
“I have bought a handbook for new dads. I am sure I can make it work,” he said, referring to his hopes of being a good father.
On social media, Koop Kip, former girlfriend of teen heart-throb Mario Maurer, said she thanked god, and Bie, for her happiness.
While media reports saluted Bie for promptly owning up to being the father, social media critics have worked out the couple were seeing each properly only two weeks before she fell pregnant.
“That’s fast work, and shows she’s too easy,” one remarked.
Another critic wrote: ‘‘Thai society is still unable to accept pregnancy before marriage, even more so if you are an actress … they are widely seen as promiscuous.
“I would like Koop Kip to show some sign she knows she has done wrong. At the moment she wears this delighted look as if she is waiting merely for society to congratulate her.”
Another young woman was more positive, praising Koop Kip for setting an example.
“Thank you Koop Kip for giving me the courage to tell my parents. I can cite her example to show society now accepts pregnancy before marriage. I don’t see anyone criticising them.
“I told my mum yesterday I am pregnant. Yet why are the people around me not as pleased as they are for Koop Kip?” she asked.
Tack’s mum furious over feeding claims
The mother of DJ and actor Paranyu “Tack” Rojanavudtitham has complained to police after a netizen claimed his own mother breast-fed Tack as a child because his birth mother refused to do the job.
Tack’s mother, Chanika Apichai, complained to Chiang Mai police last week after a netizen, writing on Facebook under the name of Nomot Lukstapipot, claimed Ms Chanika asked his own mother to breast-feed Tack, because she was afraid of spoiling her figure.
“The truth is my mother told Tack that he used to feed off her milk … because our homes were opposite each other, and we were born about the same time,” he wrote.
“His mother didn’t want him drinking her own milk, as she was worried about losing her shape. Sometimes when I meet him I want to tell Tack the story, but I am scared he will end up hating his mother even more than he does now,” he added.
News reports identified the author as the elder brother of a well-known television actor.
Complaining to police, Ms Chanika said the claims had damaged her reputation. She had fed Tack on powdered milk and never asked anyone to feed him breastmilk on her behalf.
She said Tack had called her after the claims went public and she was able to assure him they were not true.
“He gave me his support to carry on with the complaint,” she said.
Earlier, Tack said he would rather leave the dispute to the seniors in his life. Tack’s parents split up when he was eight years old.
He is closer to his father than his mother, whom he rarely visits.
Police are investigating.