The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) will decide today what punitive action they will take against the organizer of the popular TV series “Club Friday to be Continued” for featuring violent scenes against women.
Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the commission, said that the show, broadcast on GMM 25 channel, may have violated Section 37 of the Broadcasting Act, for featuring violent scenes that are against the code of moral conduct.
The famous series, which is known for being based on true stories that people call in and share, showed a violent scene where a man forced a female villain’s face to a motorcycle’s exhaust pipe, causing her to become deformed in an episode called “Best Friends, Bad Friends.”
The soap also showed the same female villain being raped while another woman watched and laughed as she took a video.
The villain was played by famous actress Apinya “Saipan” Sakuljaroensuk, who co-starred with David Kross in the movie “Same Same but Different.”
The episode aired in May but reran on the channel after that. While the soap is based on people’s sexual scandals, the show is also shockingly labeled as “suitable for all ages.”
“We have constantly received complaints regarding the rape scenes on TV soaps. The NBC has allowed each channel to control their own content, but it seems that some have gone too far in stressing that rape culture is normal in Thailand,” Supinya said.
She suggested that the NBC come up with punishments to control these TV shows and to create a new standard for Thai soap operas, Post Today reported.
It’s about time.
While rape scenes have become less common on television, they were a staple plotline for Thai soaps for decades. They constantly showed women being assaulted for ratings.
Several classic Thai soaps, that have been remade over and over, such as “Khu Kam,” showed the leading lady being forced against her will. Meanwhile, “Ngao Asok” showed a man attempting to rape the leading lady in almost every episode before they end up falling in love.
Related:
Rape Culture: From the Ramakien to the Railway, we’re all to blame
After year of the rape, media still glamorizes it
Leave the bikini alone: Feminism fire lit in Bangkok by UN Women’s film fest
