Art follows gay "false alarm" with a baby girl

But the gossip that went around last year about how heartbroken he was after breaking up with fellow singer Pongsak “Aof” Ratanapong was apparently way off-track. Aof told the press that he and Art had never been an item and said Art is talented enough that he doesn’t need to spread lies to be famous.

So, okay, we’re going to trust that Art was telling the truth this week when he said he’s now the father of a month-old baby girl named Anna. He says he had a fling with a female friend who was consoling him during some other unspecified setback, and after the birth she signed over guardianship to him. Art says he’ll raise the girl on his own and begged reporters not to try and track down the mother’s identity. She’s no one famous, he says.

“Anna was not a mistake – she’s the miracle of my life,” he proclaimed, denying that abortion was ever even considered. He and her mum decided against a relationship of their own because of his sexual orientation. “She can accept what I am, but she should have a better family life, so we decided to end it because I can’t change myself. But I will do my best as a father,” he says. Art adds that the baby looks like him and he also ran a DNA check that confirmed he was the father.

Art still felt compelled to apologise for not being “a good role model” for younger people, but he promised to make up for it by being a fine father. 

 

Naresuan dodges bullet

The risk Thai celebrities take in offering political opinions almost ruptured celebrations for “The Legend of King Naresuan 5”, which hit the screens this week. One of its stars, Inthira “Sai” Charoenpura, had made controversial statements online before the coup, and that prompted many people to announce they would boycott the movie. Some even begged the director, MC Chatrichalerm “Than Mui” Yukol, to cut Sai – who plays the warrior princess Lurkin – out of the film altogether.

Than Mui’s son, MR Chalermchatri “Adam” Yukol, tried to halt the ugly elephant charge by reminding folks that the movie is “only entertainment” – nothing to do with politics – and the filmmakers’ personal views shouldn’t affect what goes onscreen.

Besides, Adam said, the message behind the “Naresuan” series is that a country falls unless it remains united. Anyone watching it and thinking only red or yellow thoughts is going to miss out on its impact. “Differences in political opinion don’t make me hate anyone. It’s just a matter of agreeing or disagreeing – it’s not hate or love,” he said.

Sai read Adam’s post and felt guilty about landing her colleagues in hot water, regretting that so many people had mixed up her personal opinion with her work, which involves hundreds of crewmembers and actors. So attended the movie’s premiere after all, overcoming early doubts – but she stopped short of talking to the press, lest she be asked more damning questions.