Three social media influencers were in custody today on suspicion of insulting the monarchy in a sketch they filmed for online selling platform Lazada.
Kittikoon Thammakitiraj, a transgender blogger and model known as Mom Dew, was being held Thursday afternoon at the Technology Crime Supression Division in Bangkok’s Lak Si over a complaint that she impersonated the Queen Mother Sirikit in an ad campaign that was quickly pulled after it aired last month.
“Mom was terrified. There is a car waiting to pick me up in front of the house,” she wrote on Facebook this morning. “This is right across Central Plaza Ladprao. Save your mother.”
#SaveMomDew was trending on Thai socials today along with calls to release the popular online personality.
In early May, boycott calls were issued against Lazada after its TikTok ad campaign offended many by appearing to mock both the monarchy and people with disabilities.
Duangrat Srinuan told reporters that the authorities are also interrogating the other two people who appeared in the video, Aniwat “Nara” Prathumthin and Thidaporn “Nurat” Chaokuwiang.
Lazada ad pulled for allegedly mocking disabled – and Thai royal
Aniwat, who is credited for creating the campaign, was summoned to appear and answer a charge of lese majeste, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison per offense.
As long-held taboos about discussing the monarchy’s role in society have eroded, prosecutions under the draconian law have increased.
“This morning, I heard from Administrative Affairs officials that I had made a mistake with the Lazada advertisement,” Aniwat wrote online. “I am on my way to meet with the authorities at 2:30pm. I ask for sympathy and encouragement from everyone. I don’t know what’s going to happen but I hope everything will pass.”
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