"Timeline" star's tricolours cause for concern

Apparently, the short-shorts-clad singer had been a longtime secret admirer of the soap hunk, but she dared not approach him when she spotted him having lunch at a restaurant. So Baitoey’s manager went to James Ji’s manager to set up a meeting. Within five minutes, James Ji appeared in the carpark and their photos were posted on Baitoey’s Instagram.
“He has such good manners. It’s no wonder why such a gentleman has earned such endearment,” Baitoey said.
The photos were a hit in the social media but then politics had to go and ruin everything. James is seen wearing a white polo shirt that bears a Thai flag on the right sleeve. Similar garments are worn by the whistleblowing anti-government protesters.
And after the shirt was noticed by by red-shirt Facebook users, increasing numbers of fans became curious about the actor’s political stance.
Turns out the shirt was given to him by a sponsor to wear at a “Thai Fight” press event, which he’d just attended.
But as discussion of the topic dragged on, another photo popped up in the social media, one of the actor holding a piggy bank in front of a backdrop that suggests it is the office or studio of BlueSky Channel, the broadcasters of the anti-government protests.
The Facebook page “Yud Dudjarit Prathet Thai 2” said James has the right to do whatever he wants and fans can decide whether or not to support him.
But some disgruntled red shirts posted a poster of James Ji’s latest movie “Timeline” with a cross over it. Expressions of such hostility are isolated, however, and neutral voices have supported him on Twitter and Facebook, pointing out that the actor has never expressed his political views.
To be fair, fans should keep the actor’s work separate from his personal views, said @kunmam231 on Twitter. “Why can’t one separate movies and politics? Why?”

Singing for the farmers
Other celebrities are more outspoken about their views, among them musicians Saharat “Kong” Sangkapreecha and Jirayut “Joe” Wattanasin, who will put on a benefit to help farmers who are waiting to be paid under the rice-pledging scheme.
The free concert, “Joe and Kong and His Idol”, will have the former members of Nuvo performing from noon to 3.30 tomorrow in front of Benjasiri Park next to the Emporium. The place is sure to be packed.
Their aim is to raise funds for 11 families whose members have died recently as well as the families of farmers who have been protesting in Bangkok.
They plan to perform hits from their Nuvo days as well as covers by other Thai artists and even a few foreign songs from such bands as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.
Donations will be collected by volunteers carrying boxes around the venue. Kong and Joe aim to make things transparent, so they have arranged for Siam Commercial Bank to audit the donations and report the amount during and after the concert, and the account will be closed after the final tally has been been announced.