Film surrenders to public pressure, Collapsing in a football heap

Film

Buckling under increasing pressure from the media, actor and singer Rattapoom "Film" Tokongsub says he is now willing to do anything to make his paternity dispute go away.

A teary Film turned up before the media on Thursday for a second time to answer claims that he is an unwilling father in a paternity row with an actress who claims she gave birth to his child.

Annie

Thai/Swiss actress Rungnapa "Annie" Brook, says Film virtually abandoned her to give birth and bring up the child, Nong Tikayu Kaewtrihan, alone.
Taking her three-month old son before the cameras, Annie said she no longer wanted Film's help, and was resigned to bringing up the child alone.

Earlier, superstar Film insisted on a DNA test.

Reaction was swift, with Film's entertainment boss on Tuesday putting Film's work plans on hold until he was prepared to take responsibility.

On the internet, Thais denounced him for being a bad father.

Film went into seclusion in the province of Petchabun with family, but on Wednesday was forced to confront the public again when his mother was admitted to hospital with stress.

Making a teary appearance before the media, Film said he was worried about the boy. While he still wanted to know if the boy was indeed his, he knew the child's welfare and Annie's reputation were more important.

"Even if the other side is unwilling to undergo a DNA test, I am still willing to support the child.

"It was a mistake, but from now on I want to do the best I can. I look at the boy and know I love him. I will help him forever.

"My family wants to hold their grandchild. But they also want me to go ahead with a DNA test - not just for me, but also the mother's sake too.

"No matter how much fame I have created for myself, it counts for nothing against the other side's reputation. I do feel for her.

"If the result shows I am indeed the father, I'll be delighted, because I can show society that I can be a good dad - not the person they think I am."

Annie is unimpressed, as she believes public pressure forced Film to apologise. She also insists his version of events does not match the truth.

"I forgive him, but will not forget," she said, urging Film to let her care for the child alone.

"Don't make the boy a hostage to society or business interests," she said, referring to Film's lack of work since his music label put on hold his career.

Film's boss, RS Promotion head Surachai "Hia Hor" Chetchotisak, urged Annie to let her son submit to a DNA test.

Hia Hor

"Cracks have opened between accounts given by Film and Annie - whether he indeed failed to support her financially, whether she indeed travelled to the hospital alone as she claims - but really the affair has gone beyond the point of what each side is saying," he said, adding: "I have told Film that if he is man enough to do something, he should be man enough to face up to the consequences.

"If he is indeed the father, but refuses to take responsibility, he would hardly be human.

"However, if he is prepared to take responsibility, but the other side refuses to let the test happen, I would sympathise with his plight."

On Wednesday, outspoken director Poj Anon - a confidante of Film's - waded into the row, urging the public to give Film a break.

Poj

"Thais have branded Film as an unwilling father. They should listen to both sides before rushing to judgement," said Poj.

Annie said that four months into her pregnancy, she asked Film for a DNA test, but he refused.

However, according to Poj, Film himself suggested a DNA test, but Annie knocked him back.

"She said: 'Don't you trust me?"' Poj said.

Film and Annie met last year on the set of the TV soap Pisaj Sanekon. Film said Annie was not his girlfriend, and both sides were shocked to hear she was pregnant.

Poj asked Film why neither of took any precautions. "Annie told him she was sterilised, so couldn't get pregnant," said Poj.

"Film's family and his manager have been in contact with her constantly. She was not abandoned as she claims."

Family values campaigner Rabiabrat Pongpanich said Film appeared to regard women as mere objects for his sexual gratification.

Rabiabrat

"Film's behaviour was careless and promiscuous - and that director fellow [Poj] goes too far in declaring publicly that Annie was sterile," she said.

"I don't care what his connection is to Film, he is dishonouring a third party [Annie]," she said.

Poj said Rabiabrat should stop meddling. "If you have so much free time, why don't you relax your earnest hair style and give us something new to look at?" he said.

Film's mother was admitted to hospital after suffering stress while watching Rabiabrat criticise her son.

Film's mother

Annie's mother, who lives in Lampang, also fell ill as the front-page saga raged around her daughter.

Among Film's more unusual critics was Sitthikorn "Sia Ood" Boonchim, a former millionaire patron of young male stars who is now serving time for amulet fraud.

Film, Sia Ood

Sia Ood wrote an open letter from his prison cell accusing Film of being unmanly for refusing to accept the boy.

"If she was a famous lead actress, would you dare ask for a DNA test?" he asked.

"You should transfer to the boy the title to the house I bought you, so at least the boy has a place to live in, even if he has no dad," said Sia Ood.

RS has yet to say when it will revive Film's career plans.

The release of his fifth album was shelved, as was work on a kung fu movie, and plans to take Film "inter" in South Korea.

Annie is saying little to the media as she has promised her story to a chat show.

On Tuesday, however, the Thai Rath newspaper caught up with the actress as she took her son to make merit at a temple in Nonthaburi.

Annie said she had moved away from town to stay with family in Prawet, in line with Film's wishes that she keep their child a secret.

"It is lonely, and sometimes I go without meals," she said.

"If I want to eat, I hang some money on the door of my condo, and call a motorcycle taxi driver to collect it. He leaves my food on the door, so I don't have to meet anyone," she said.

Film, she said, had asked her to coin the nickname "Star" for his son. -

2.

Nina, and boyfriend Bank

Actress and presenter Sutida Nina Ruangronghiranya is nursing a sore head after rowdy football revellers on the mezzanine floor of a city pub fell through the floor on top of her.

Nina and friends had gathered to watch Sunday's Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at the Heap pub in Ratchathewi.

‘I was walking away from our table when Liverpool scored a goal, so came back. The crowd on the mezzanine floor above were watching the same game and started jumping up and down in excitement.
I heard a loud bang, and suddenly people and tiles were falling about my head,’ said Nina.

The revellers on the mezzanine level fell on to patrons below. Some of the ground floor patrons were hurt, including Nina, who was taken to hospital and needed three stitches to her head.

Nina and her friends on Monday laid a complaint with Phayathai police, who have since closed the pub indefinitely.

The presenter said she had spoken to the pub’s managers, who admitted they had extended the mezzanine and changed the building’s use without obtaining planning consent. Patrons were not normally allowed to sit there, but on Monday night the place was packed.

The mezzanine floor lacked supports just where the football fans had gathered, Nina said.