The Empress of Ayodhaya and Its Historical Context
“The Empress of Ayodhaya” or “Mae Yuhua” is a Thai period drama centered on Queen Sri Sudachan of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
The series, airing on channel One31 and Netflix, follows her as she becomes regent for her son after the death of King Chairacha.
The show, starring Mai Davika Hoorne as Jinda, follows a royal woman forced to become one of King Phra Chairacha’s concubines to reclaim her family’s throne.
Competing with other concubines for the title of queen consort, her love for Wamon (Film Thanapat Kawila) is tested as they are separated.
Set against political intrigue, the drama explores the challenges of ruling during a turbulent time in Thai history.
The Scene That Sparked Outrage
In episode five, a scene showed a black cat drinking from a tray containing a poisonous solution.
The cat then appeared to convulse and have a seizure before “dying,” leading some viewers to express concerns about its treatment.
What seemed to be an emotional and tense moment in the series took a darker turn when (Nov 9, 2024) actress Mollywan Jah Phantarak revealed on her X account that the cat had been anesthetized for the scene.
The Backlash and Public Reactions
Mollywan’s revelation quickly gained attention, prompting criticism from animal rights groups and veterinarians. According to The Thaiger, this ignited widespread outrage, with the hashtag #แบนแม่หยัว (Ban Mae Yuhua) trending in Thailand as many demanding accountability from the production team.
The controversy centered not only on the cat’s welfare but also on the risks of unnecessary sedation, which could have been potentially life-threatening.
Director’s Defense and Government Involvement
In response, director Sant Srikaewlaw took to his Facebook and defended the decision, explaining that the anesthesia was conducted under the supervision of experts. The post has now been deleted.
He assured the public that the cat was in good health and pledged to provide documentation of its health check. Although he initially shared a video showing the cat in good condition, the post has since been deleted, but the footage continues to circulate online after going viral.
However, his explanation failed to appease critics, many of whom viewed the use of anesthesia for a dramatic effect as irresponsible.
Channel One31 also released a statement on the issue, apologizing for “causing discomfort” and also confirming that the cat was anesthetized during filming under the supervision of experts from an animal modeling agency with at least 10 years of experience.
Furthermore, The Department of Livestock Development has launched an investigation to determine if animal cruelty laws were violated.
Authorities have asked for more details on the “experts” involved and requested that the cat undergo a full health examination, as reported by Bangkok Post.
Controversial Comments and Apologies
Bint Leearamwat, another actress in the drama and a former veterinarian, also faced backlash for her comment under Mollywan’s post, seemingly supporting animal abuse. Not only that, she stoked more flames when she jokingly made comments about the feline’s acting, indicating that the cat should be “nominated.”
This remark, widely criticized as insensitive, was quickly deleted, and Mollywan’s account was later deleted. Bint later apologized, acknowledging that her comment was thoughtless and failed to consider the animal’s well-being.
Animal rights groups, including PETA, have called for a permanent ban on director Sant Srikaewlaw from working with animals in the future, criticizing the practice as reckless.
Current Status: Investigation and Series Impact
As of November 12, 2024, the Department of Livestock Development continues to investigate whether animal welfare laws were violated in using sedation.
Despite the ongoing backlash, there has been no official decision to remove the controversial scene from the series.
Watch the video here: X
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