Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene.
PopVultures host Jan Lee examines the unique pop culture genre of Thai boys’ love dramas in this region and how they are marketed. She also looks at the term ‘queer baiting’ - what it actually means and how the term has been mistranslated and misused.
Thai actor Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat got fans into a bit of a frenzy after he posted several tweets explaining his relationship with his onscreen partner Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong. The two were stars of a popular Thai boys’ love drama TharnType: The Series (2019- 2020) and attracted many fans with their “couple pairing” both on and off screen. After Mew explained that he shares a purely platonic relationship with Gulf, he was accused of ‘queer baiting’. Jan examines why Mew’s words triggered so much unhappiness among fans. Highlights (tap/click above): 1:28 Who is Mew? 3:15 Thailand’s specialty in producing ‘BL’ dramas; and the difference in treatment with other Asian countries 7:25 How does ‘fan service’ play into its marketing? How celebs in this genre are marketed? 8:59 What did Mew say and why are fans upset? 14:11 What queer baiting actually means and why real people cannot ‘queer bait’ 22:40 How Harry Styles is also accused of ‘queer baiting’, final thoughts about ‘fan service’ and engaging with Thai BL culture
Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg) & Penelope Lee
Edited by: Penelope Lee & Teo Tong Kai
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