Ads for a dating app have appeared in several provinces, such as Chiang Rai, Songkhla, and Pathum Thani.
The messages on the ads are attention-grabbing and have sparked conversations, much like those in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as “Korat”.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, a billboard asked, “What is delicious in Korat?” and presented a choice between “Fried Korat Noodles” and “Korat ladies”, with a checkmark next to “Korat Ladies” and a cross next to “Fried Korat Noodles”. The ads have received mixed reactions.
Meanwhile, members of the Lawyer’s Council of Thailand in Nakhon Ratchasima have demanded the removal of the controversial ads within seven days. If not, they will file a complaint with the local police and seek legal action against the owner of the dating app.
Apasarada Nathampaphol, vice chair of the Lawyer’s Council of Thailand in Nakhon Ratchasima, stated that the ads have generated widespread discussion, both negative and positive.
However, she and her four colleagues, who are council members, have agreed that the ads reflect poorly on the province and that the message in the advertisement degrades women by comparing them to food. This could constitute libel, which carries a fine of 200,000 baht and/or a two-year prison sentence upon conviction.
In the southern province of Songkhla, the billboards display the message: “When you go to Hat Yai, you have to taste…” The first option, “Hat Yai fried chicken”, was marked with a cross, while the second, “Hat Yai men”, had a checkmark.
Hat Yai
In the northern province of Chiang Rai, similar billboards for the same dating app but with local questions have been spotted, and images of them have gone viral on social media.
One of the billboards asks, “What is really yummy? Local northern food or local men?”, with the checkmark next to the latter answer.
In the Rangsit area, just north of Bangkok, the message reads: “Something superb here, liked by everybody,” and presents the choices of “Rangsit pubs or Rangsit teens?” The checkmark is next to “Rangsit teens”.
