Pond, interviewed on television last week for the first time since her appearance on the Thailand's Got Talent show last month, said her life changed overnight when the public rounded on her for offending Thai morals.
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| Pond |
Her brief appearance upset the only woman on the three-member judging panel, TV host Pornchita "Benz'' na Songkhla, who turned her back on Pond, and declared it was "not art''.
She also chased her two male co-presenters backstage to demand to know why they supported it.
The act quickly became the talk of the town, with the culture minister declaring it offended morality, and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission levying a 500,000 baht fine on Channel 3 for airing the daring segment.
Pond said a talent scout invited her to put her name forward as a contestant. She was not trying to seek fame by taking off her clothes as her critics had claimed.
"I did it for my son, who is aged six months, and my husband, who is out of work. We need the money,'' she said.
"My friends and family called asking why I did it. It shocked my mother, who said she was too embarrassed to face people.''
As the furore intensified, Pond said she went into hiding rather than face people.
"I took shelter with friends, changed my phone number, and stopped going to work. I took pills for stress, and was admitted to hospital.
"I would like to apologise if I gave the public the impression that Thais routinely take off their clothes. I didn't do it by choice,'' Pond said, offering a wai to the cameras.
The Miracle of Life Foundation, under the patronage of HRH Princess Ubolratana, has now taken Pond and her family under its wing.
Pond, who returned to her family home in Phrae for the interview, says she left school early to take care of her parents.
Her father, a former boxer, is bedridden after a motorcycle accident 10 years ago, and needs hospital care every month.
Pond says her segment in Thailand's Got Thailand was set up to boost the show's ratings. Boy, the agent who spotted her, picked her up at home at 4am on the day in April when her segment was recorded.
He had told her that all equipment including the paint and canvas would be supplied.
Boy drove her to the studios, where she had to wait for more than 12 hours before she could take to the stage.
"The place was full of people filling out application forms. Boy, who filled out mine for me, had offered 10,000 baht if I would agree to paint on a canvas while wearing a bra,'' she said.
That story changed as the day wore on.
"Shortly before my act, Boy spoke to the Thailand's Got Talent team, and came back saying I should take off my bra as well.
"I told him that was not what we agreed. But Boy said that my taking off my bra would ensure I passed into the next round, and make the show look saucier.''
Boy also promised her that if she passed into the next round, she would be paid 10 million baht.
"When I mounted the stage, I performed my act as quickly as I could. I didn't know what I was painting, as I kept my eyes closed. I grabbed a top to cover my breasts. I could barely face the panel,'' she said.
Pond says she was shocked when the male judges passed her into the next round, as she admits no artistry was involved.
Panya Nirunkul, the head of Workpoint, which produces Thailand's Got Thailand for Channel 3, has apologised for the breast-painting segment, which he said went too far.
He said the show is open to everyone, but if they put on an act which is judged in bad taste, they close the door on their own chances.
"Some acts are sourced from elsewhere, such as agents. The producers don't know all the details of every act,'' he said.
He said agent Boy was probably shocked about what happened, and wondering if he did anything wrong. "But he shouldn't feel that way, as he has introduced many acts to us before.''
Asked if an agent had exploited the show for his own benefit, Mr Panya said it was hard to say.
He had spoken to the Thailand's Got Thailand team, and was sure it wouldn't happen again. -
2.
The one-time husband of famous country music singer Poompuang
Duangjan, wants people to know that he hasn't forgotten his son.
Kraisorn Leelamekin last week left a cheque for 440,000 baht with Channel 3 in the hope it will contact his estranged son, singer Sorapob "Petch'' Leelamekin, on his behalf.
Kraisorn, himself a former performer, said the money comes from a fixed-term insurance policy which he took out 17 days after Poompuang's death 20 years ago.
It was one of many savings-style policies that he took out for their only son, Petch, in the hope he would use the money on his education.
Kraison has rarely spoken to his son since left the family home six years ago to live with his former girlfriend. He doesn't know where he is living, or his phone number, but hopes they can speak again.
Poompuang, a rags-to-riches success story who is still beloved by many Thais, died from a blood disease at the age of 30. Traditionally, the June 13 anniversary of Poompuang's death is marked at Wat Tap Kradan in Suphan Buri.
Thousands of fans of the late singer gather to mark her passing in the province where she was born. At the 2009 celebrations, Petch argued with members of Kraisorn's family.
Petch, who had entered the monkhood, had called for public donations to build a wax statue in memory of his mother.
"You killed my mother - all of you!'' Petch charged, as his uncle and aunt demanded he apologise for criticising Kraisorn, and explain how the temple donations would be spent.
In the aftermath of that battle, Petch accused his father of sexual abuse, and Kraisorn said he suspected Petch was mentally unhinged.
The two sides took each other to court.
Kraisorn and his new wife also filed lawsuits against Petch's then girlfriend and her mother. Petch fought back, asking the court to order Kraisorn to reveal details of Poompuang's estate, which once amounted to 80 million baht.
Without going into details, Kraisorn said last week that the court battles with his son were now over.
All he wanted to do was make contact with him, and show people that he was still a caring dad.
"I don't want people to accuse me of neglecting my son,'' he said.
"I want Petch to know that I'm a good dad.
"If it's possible, I'd like to talk to Petch again. All I know is what I read in the news. But I want everyone to know my intentions. I never gave up on my son.''
"I was hoping Petch might spend the money on a higher education. But having come this far, and knowing that we are no longer together, I'm happy for him just to have the cheque. All I would ask is that he spend it usefully,'' he said. -
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| Kraisorn |
Kraisorn Leelamekin last week left a cheque for 440,000 baht with Channel 3 in the hope it will contact his estranged son, singer Sorapob "Petch'' Leelamekin, on his behalf.
Kraisorn, himself a former performer, said the money comes from a fixed-term insurance policy which he took out 17 days after Poompuang's death 20 years ago.
It was one of many savings-style policies that he took out for their only son, Petch, in the hope he would use the money on his education.
Kraison has rarely spoken to his son since left the family home six years ago to live with his former girlfriend. He doesn't know where he is living, or his phone number, but hopes they can speak again.
Poompuang, a rags-to-riches success story who is still beloved by many Thais, died from a blood disease at the age of 30. Traditionally, the June 13 anniversary of Poompuang's death is marked at Wat Tap Kradan in Suphan Buri.
Thousands of fans of the late singer gather to mark her passing in the province where she was born. At the 2009 celebrations, Petch argued with members of Kraisorn's family.
Petch, who had entered the monkhood, had called for public donations to build a wax statue in memory of his mother.
"You killed my mother - all of you!'' Petch charged, as his uncle and aunt demanded he apologise for criticising Kraisorn, and explain how the temple donations would be spent.
In the aftermath of that battle, Petch accused his father of sexual abuse, and Kraisorn said he suspected Petch was mentally unhinged.
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| Petch |
The two sides took each other to court.
Kraisorn and his new wife also filed lawsuits against Petch's then girlfriend and her mother. Petch fought back, asking the court to order Kraisorn to reveal details of Poompuang's estate, which once amounted to 80 million baht.
Without going into details, Kraisorn said last week that the court battles with his son were now over.
All he wanted to do was make contact with him, and show people that he was still a caring dad.
"I don't want people to accuse me of neglecting my son,'' he said.
"I want Petch to know that I'm a good dad.
"If it's possible, I'd like to talk to Petch again. All I know is what I read in the news. But I want everyone to know my intentions. I never gave up on my son.''
"I was hoping Petch might spend the money on a higher education. But having come this far, and knowing that we are no longer together, I'm happy for him just to have the cheque. All I would ask is that he spend it usefully,'' he said. -
3.
Superstar actress and model Patcharapa "Aum'' Chaichuea says she is
tired of killjoys criticising her purchase of a Hermes bag.
Aum has bought a silver Hermes bag, similar to one owned by celebrity Victoria Beckham, which some reports say cost up to four million baht. She took a picture of the bag, sitting on her bed, and published it on Instagram.
Critics say that in an age when we should be proud to make do with
less, the bag is a symbol of excess, and Aum should feel guilty for buying
it.
Outspoken director Poj Anon has weighed in to the debate over her bag, saying if it really cost as much as claimed, she would have been better off giving the money to the poor.
Aum says that since the public started criticising her bag, she is too scared even to take it outdoors. She has done so only once, for perhaps half an hour.
"I'm bored of people who think like this,'' she said last week.
"I already make merit once a month. In buying this bag, I am merely purchasing for myself a little happiness.
"It's my money, and I earned it. It's like I have set aside a little money for myself. I'm not causing anyone distress, and nor am I spending money that belongs to anyone else,'' she said, adding the bag didn't cost as much as the four million baht claimed.
"If you ask me whether I want to take it out now that I have bought it, the answer is no.
"I've bought the thing, but for now it will just have to sit there. One day, I might come to terms with it, and take the bag out with me. I have hardly ever used it ... perhaps for just half an hour.
"I decided I'd just stop using it, to end all the fuss. I don't want it to draw attention,'' she said, looking glum.
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| Aum |
Aum has bought a silver Hermes bag, similar to one owned by celebrity Victoria Beckham, which some reports say cost up to four million baht. She took a picture of the bag, sitting on her bed, and published it on Instagram.
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| The handbag |
Outspoken director Poj Anon has weighed in to the debate over her bag, saying if it really cost as much as claimed, she would have been better off giving the money to the poor.
Aum says that since the public started criticising her bag, she is too scared even to take it outdoors. She has done so only once, for perhaps half an hour.
"I'm bored of people who think like this,'' she said last week.
"I already make merit once a month. In buying this bag, I am merely purchasing for myself a little happiness.
"It's my money, and I earned it. It's like I have set aside a little money for myself. I'm not causing anyone distress, and nor am I spending money that belongs to anyone else,'' she said, adding the bag didn't cost as much as the four million baht claimed.
"If you ask me whether I want to take it out now that I have bought it, the answer is no.
"I've bought the thing, but for now it will just have to sit there. One day, I might come to terms with it, and take the bag out with me. I have hardly ever used it ... perhaps for just half an hour.
"I decided I'd just stop using it, to end all the fuss. I don't want it to draw attention,'' she said, looking glum.
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