Actress Pimpaporn "Ping" Leenuthapong is threatening legal action against a distant relative after she accused her of being the child of a minor wife.
Pimpaporn ‘Ping’ Leenuthapong and inset, Wichuda ‘Tum’ Leenuthapong.
Ping insists her parents are legally married, and the claims by wealthy socialite Wichuda "Tum" Leenuthapong, a distant relative who she has never met, have hurt her family.
Tum inadvertently dragged Ping into the news after she accused her former lover, Pol Lt Col Attapol "Aun" Ittayorpasakul, of asking her for large loans to buy himself a promotion in the police force.
Ping said she was besieged with questions from the media and activists wanting to know more about the allegations. They noticed she and Tum shared the same surname, so called for comment.
"They told me Tum's claims caused a crisis of confidence in the country ... stuff about how the police could no longer be trusted, that they could buy their way into the force," she said.
Ping took to social media to say she knew nothing about the drama with her boyfriend, and pleaded with Tum to leave her out of it. She said she didn't appreciate Tum using words of disparagement to refer to seniors she respected, and declared she no longer regarded her as the same kin.
Tum responded on Facebook saying she didn’t want to know Ping either.
"You are the offspring of a second, third, fourth or fifth wife of an uncle of mine.
"Don’t start with me. If you really want to start exposing people’s evils, you will find your own family background is more embarrassing," she said.
Ping, she said, had been linked to a series of scandals, but Tum had never thought to meddle in her business.
"You have been linked in the news with young men since before you were 20, and like posing for revealing shoots," she said. "Who would want to count you as a relative?" she asked.
Ping denied the claims, and said Tum should be more careful with her language.
"My mother is my father’s second wife, but they are legally married. The term ‘minor wife’ and ‘second wife’ are not the same, and Thais should know the difference. I was stunned she wouldn’t do a little research first," Ping said.
"This kind of talk can only make my father look bad, as if he is a playboy and seeing many women at once. And my parents do have a name in society to uphold."
Her father said he wanted Tum to apologise. However, Ping denied news reports her father had gone so far as threatening to cut off Tum’s finger unless he didn’t get his way.
"It’s just a case of an adult reprimanding a youngster. It’s a figure of speech, as she uses her finger to type those nasty claims on social media.
"Who would seriously want to cut off someone’s finger? This is not some Chinese movie from 10 years ago."
Ping said her family will consider legal action unless Tum stops making such harmful remarks.
"She refuses to say sorry, and we do not want an apology if it’s not sincere. But dad is still perplexed; how do you get through to such a person?
"I have consulted a lawyer, who wants to take the matter further. I will take another look. If I’m too tired, I will let it go. If I still have some energy, I might put up a bit of fight.
"At the moment, I am happy if we just go our separate ways. Just don’t use words of abuse, my lovely," she joked.
Arisara ‘Dew’ Thongborisut.
This diamond's not forever
Actress Arisara "Dew" Thongborisut is pleading with a childhood friend to reveal what she did with a diamond ring she stole.
Dew last month complained to Khok Kram police that her friend, identified as "Praew", stole her ring, a family heirloom valued at 600,000 baht which once belonged to her mother.
Dew said she took on Praew as an assistant late last year after she lost her job. The two shared the same lodgings together but after the ring went missing, Praew disappeared.
"On Jan 6 I was going to wear it to the launch of a lakorn but she advised against it, she said it didn’t suit the outfit I was wearing.
"She put it back in its box. On Jan 11, when I went to put it on again, I found it was missing," Dew said.
"I asked her about the ring. At first she denied it, saying if she tried to sell it at a pawn shop, she would have to show her ID, which ruled out that option."
Dew took along former Pheu Thai MP Phonpoom Vipattipumi-prates for support when she laid her complaint.
Updating reporters last week on the case, she said Praew had now been in touch to admit she took the ring. She claims she sold it at a thieves’ market for a little more than 10,000 baht, but has offered to pay Dew back in four instalments over the next year of 15,000 baht each.
Dew said she doesn’t believe her friend sold the ring, and would like her to reveal what she has done with it.
"What are my chances of getting it back? She has chosen to pay me back rather than return it, because going after it risks implicating people she knows.
"It’s annoying, and I just want it to end.
"She didn’t say much, just agreed to pay, as I had strong evidence against her, including Line messages in which she admitted taking it.
"But I would like her to tell the whole story. I don’t want to make her life a misery. Her parents came to see me. We had scenes of drama, plenty of tears, and I went soft on her," she said.
Dew said police have no choice but to proceed with the case under the law, despite the repayment plan. Praew has now made the first instalment.
Akumsiri ‘Jakajan’ Suwannasuk.
Jakajan tired of 'sickos'
Model and actress Akumsiri "Jakajan" Suwannasuk says she is prepared to put up with many irritants in her line of work, but draws the line at "sickos" who call wanting sex.
Jakajan, who received a flood of unwelcome attention after posing for a recent bikini spread in Praew magazine, said models who embark on a career in the "sexy stream" have little choice but to put up with it.
She said she can tolerate invitations from middle-aged rich men wanting to take her out for dinner, and men who want her to be their kik (bit on the side). However, she draws the line at perverts who call in the middle of the night.
"There are plenty of sickos around. I have changed my number twice. After my bikini spread appeared, one started calling at night. He asked for sex. I put the phone down immediately.
"If he calls again, I will tell the police. When I go out I am not too worried, as I go with friends, and fans will always shriek a greeting when you are famous," she joked.
"If you get into the sexy line of work you will also meet the middle-aged types with fat wallets. They send their people to sound me out. I say I don't like that type. I don’t want phuyai, as I worry we won't be able to talk any sense to each other.
"Men also ask me if I want to be their kik, but if I don't like them I just say so. I understand these people. They're not like the perverts, who are always asking for this or that ... there's just no way."
Jakajan, who is single despite the offers, said she is getting used to life alone.
"If romance comes along, great, but if I have to change my lifestyle, I'd rather not.
"If I want to do something, I just do it ... otherwise, if I am asked to film a love scene and I have a jealous boyfriend, what should I do?
"Friends of mine who dress in sexy gear say their boyfriends complain, even though they knew what they were like when they started flirting.
"So if love happens, it happens. If not, I'll stay pretty like this, and raise my cats and dogs," she said.
