Celebrities are entitled to do good deeds for the King just like anyone else and should not let critics put them off, insists actress Hansa "Newclear" Jungviwattanawong.
Hansa 'Newclear' Jungviwattanawong.
Newclear was among the many entertainers who joined the crowds at the Grand Palace wanting to pay their respects. As public figures, many also took a prominent role in giving away goods to the public, including drinking water, ribbons, black T-shirts, and even cooked goods from home.
While most Thais at the palace appeared happy to see them, some netizens vented their spleen on social media, accusing the celebrity set of doing it for the publicity.
Newclear said the first day she turned up to offer a wai with friends, she noticed the crowds were short of essential items including drinking water.
"I suggested to my family that we help out by making some food, and have come back for the past three days to offer mum's cooking, tissues and other necessities.
"I haven't yet had a chance to join Thais praying for the King, as the queues are so long, but I hope to do so before much longer," she said.
Newclear said one keyboard warrior opined on her Facebook page that entertainers who turn up to give away goods are simply joining a fashion trend.
"He said we have seen our friends doing it so want to get our pictures taken too," she said, quoting the post.
"People who love the King come from all over the county, not just Bangkok. Some who turn up won't have money to stay in hotels or buy food. If I can help in a small way, it makes me feel good.
Suteewan 'Baitoey' Thaveesin.
"Thais who gather here are exposed to the elements but still show no signs of fatigue. Armchair critics barely stir themselves at home, and don't know what it is like to get out there and help.
"The King encouraged us to perform good deeds such as giving. Even if you are simply following a fashion trend, it is still a good deed."
Celebrities are sensitive to criticism their grieving is not sincere or they are exploiting the occasion for their own benefit. Sorawit "Mor Kong" Suboon, an actor and army doctor who helps staff at a first-aid tent at the Grand Palace, jumped on the internet to clarify an image which appeared of him asleep in daylight, curled up on a cobble-stoned path with only a doctor's bag for head support.
He said the image was taken early this year, not at the palace, and was put up by fans. He said he did not want the picture leading to a "misunderstanding". Reports said he was worried the image risked portraying himself as exhausted in service of the King, when others had made bigger sacrifices.
Singer and actress Suteewan "Baitoey" Thaveesin, known for her micro-dresses, came under attack after she wore a chest-busting black polo neck and flared dress which stopped just below the knee as she signed a condolence book for the King. Critics said the outfit was too revealing.
On Thursday, she joined the crowds at the palace with her boyfriend, actor and DJ Pattanapol "Man" Kunchorn Na Ayutthaya, to give away orange juice, sweets, and 300 black ribbons she had made. On this occasion, Baitoey deferred to her fashion critics. She wore a sensible, close fitting dress which fell to her mid-ankle.
Sorawit 'Mor Kong' Suboon.
Meanwhile, Channel 7 actress Tansinee "Som" Promsut denied she was encouraging vigilantes when she praised on social media the actions of a woman who beat a city bus passenger after she criticised the King.
The incident was one of several widely publicised attacks last week in which Thais rounded on supposed slights to the monarchy. They spurred government warnings to Thais not to take the law into their hands.
On social media, Som wrote approvingly of the woman striking the passenger. "It's high time we protected the King," she said, posting an icon of hands clapping. She also shared a clip of the woman being hit as she was escorted off the bus by police.
Later reports said the victim was mentally unhinged. After Thais criticised her comments, an apologetic Som denied she was encouraging crowds to seek reprisals. "Thais should complain to police if they come across such scenes," she said.
In unusual tributes to the late monarch, DJ and actor "Dome" Pakorn Lum cycled from Rama IV to the Grand Palace because he wanted to be with the King.
"I am sure all Thais are heading there as they want to be as close to the King as they can," he said.
DJ and actor Paranyu "Tack" Rojanavudtitham, who has a large tattoo dedicated to the King on his back, posted an image of himself in tears. He said he won the lottery on Monday with the last two numbers, nine and eight.
Tack regards the numbers as lucky, as the King was in his 89th year when he died, and the winning numbers are the same, only transposed.
"I won't cash in the ticket but will frame it and keep it forever," he said.
Actress not afraid to get hands dirty
One star not afraid to get her hands dirty in the service of the King's memory was actress "Chompoo" Araya Hargate, who with her friends has been dyeing clothes black for mourners who want to pay their respects.
Chompoo and her actress friends set themselves up at the Krung Thai Tractor factory in the Rama IV area with gas-fired stoves, vats and plastic tubs to dye donated items black. Among the volunteers were actresses Pitchanart "May" Sakakorn and Chermarn "Ploy" Boonyasak.
She said they decided to offer the service after hearing shops were running short of black mourning gear, and some Thais could not afford to buy the items.
Chompoo and her friends made contact with old-time craftsmen, themselves in dwindling supply, who cycle about with a small coal-fired oven mounted on their bikes, offering clothes dyeing services door to door.
Known colloquially as pong paeng, Chompoo said she found three such craftsmen who were willing to lend their expertise.
"I see motorsai guys on Rama IV counting their coins, wanting to wear black and pay their respects. Not everyone is in a position to do so, so we decided to help in a basic, village-style way," Chompoo said.
"I asked a friend to go out in search of a pong paeng. We found one who rides a bicycle on the Ratchaburi-Nakhon Pathom route and sent a little truck to pick him up.
"He told us what we needed. We started with three gas stoves, but it was not enough. In the first two days, Thais brought in 4,000-5,000 items to be dyed for their own use, or which they donated and wanted us to send on.
"We have to expand the production line to keep up with demand. Initially it was just us, joined by workers from the factory, and the three pong paeng. We intend carrying on until Oct 31."
May, who donned gloves and a face mask for protection against the chemical fumes, said it was her first time dyeing clothes.
"I was sitting at home watching TV alone, getting sad by myself. I felt better once I was outside, and even better pitching in with an activity where I can help."
May admitted the work was hard on her hands and the chemicals hard to take. "However, when I saw so many people waiting, I had to keep going," she said.
The group appealed for dyeing chemicals, anti-dye-running agents, plastic bags, and with their own Facebook page, "Clothes Dyeing for Friends", found sponsors including a textile supplier, dye manufacturer, and a company which supplies black colouring.
On Friday, the ranks of those offering to plug the gap in black mourning gear were swelled by actresses Pimchanok "Baifern" Luevisadpaibul and "Mai" Davika Hoorne, who turned up at the Grand Palace with 360 T-shirts and 890 black ribbons to donate.
As some provinces reported black dye was running out, the Finance Ministry stepped in to say state banks would distribute eight million black T-shirts free to people who had registered as low-income earners.
Pakorn 'Dome' Lum.
Paranyu 'Tack' Rojanavudtitham.
'Chompoo' Araya Hargate.
