A female activist said she was physically assaulted by a famous Thai filmmaker yesterday on the sidelines of a large cultural event.
Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork, a well-known pro-democracy activist, said she filed a complaint against Yuthalert “Tom” Sippapak, the director of numerous blockbusters including Killer Tattoo, Buppha Ratree and Krasue Valentine.
Rukchanok, 27, wrote last night on social media that, following the riverside event they both attended, she met Yuthalert on a boat to discuss personal issues at around 9:30pm. There, she says he slapped her twice in the face and kicked her in the stomach.
Yuthalert, 55, could not be reached for comment by time of publication, and he has not addressed the matter publicly.
Rukchanok’s allegations set #NanaIcezGotAssaulted and #TomYuthalert trending this morning atop Thai Twitter, a forum preoccupied with fame and activism.
Most comments supported Rukchanok and encouraged her to press charges. Some were angry about Yuthalert’s alleged use of violence in a country where violence against women is a persistent issue.
One of those was rights crusader Sunai Phasuk, who was among those at Sunday’s event.
“Last night I left the event already when I found out about [the assault],” tweeted Sunai, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch. “I was very sad, angry and disappointed with [Yuthalert]’s behavior. Physical abuse is unacceptable. Wrong is wrong. These actions must be dealt with all the way through.”
Rukchanok has gained notoriety for hosting gatherings on audio platform Clubhouse.
Artists, activists and other fixtures of the city’s progressive bourgeoisie attended Sunday’s The Knack Market at The Jam Factory.
Present at the event were street artist Headache Stencil, beer brewer-turned-politician Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, and Tanat “Nat” Thanakitamnuay, ultra royalist-turned-pro-democracy activist who lost an eye to a tear gas canister
