Who is Mew?

Thailand's specialty in producing 'BL' dramas

How 'fan service' plays into its marketing

What did Mew say and why are fans upset?

What 'queer baiting' actually means

Thoughts about the 'fan service' approach

How celebrities in this genre are marketed and their relationship with LGBTQ audiences.

Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene.

PopVultures host Jan Lee examines the unique pop culture genre of Thai boys' love dramas in this region and how they are marketed. She also looks at the term 'queer baiting' - what it actually means and how the term has been mistranslated and misused.

Thai actor Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat got fans into a bit of a frenzy after he posted several tweets explaining his relationship with his onscreen partner Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong.

The two were stars of a popular Thai boys' love drama TharnType: The Series (2019- 2020) and attracted many fans with their "couple pairing" both on and off screen. After Mew explained that he shares a purely platonic relationship with Gulf, he was accused of 'queer baiting'. Jan examines why Mew's words triggered so much unhappiness among fans.

Highlights (tap/click above):

1:28 Who is Mew?

3:15 Thailand's specialty in producing 'BL' dramas; and the difference in treatment with other Asian countries

7:25 How does 'fan service' play into its marketing? How celebs in this genre are marketed?

8:59 What did Mew say and why are fans upset? 

14:11 What queer baiting actually means and why real people cannot 'queer bait'

22:40 How British pop star Harry Styles is also accused of 'queer baiting', final thoughts about 'fan service' and engaging with Thai BL culture

Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg) & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee & Teo Tong Kai

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

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Special edition series:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

How celebrities in this genre are marketed and their relationship with LGBTQ audiences.
Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. PopVultures host Jan Lee examines the unique pop culture genre of Thai boys' love dramas in this region and how they are marketed. She also looks at the term 'queer baiting' - what it actually means and how the term has been mistranslated and misused. Thai actor Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat got fans into a bit of a frenzy after he posted several tweets explaining his relationship with his onscreen partner Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong. The two were stars of a popular Thai boys' love drama TharnType: The Series (2019- 2020) and attracted many fans with their "couple pairing" both on and off screen. After Mew explained that he shares a purely platonic relationship with Gulf, he was accused of 'queer baiting'. Jan examines why Mew's words triggered so much unhappiness among fans. Highlights (tap/click above): 1:28 Who is Mew? 3:15 Thailand's specialty in producing 'BL' dramas; and the difference in treatment with other Asian countries 7:25 How does 'fan service' play into its marketing? How celebs in this genre are marketed? 8:59 What did Mew say and why are fans upset?  14:11 What queer baiting actually means and why real people cannot 'queer bait' 22:40 How British pop star Harry Styles is also accused of 'queer baiting', final thoughts about 'fan service' and engaging with Thai BL culture
Produced by: Jan Lee (<a href="mailto:janlee@sph.com.sg">janlee@sph.com.sg</a>) &amp; Penelope Lee
Edited by: Penelope Lee &amp; Teo Tong Kai
Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0JzlHNRcCB6cq69EcVgHV5">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaA" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1kJ9p-P45oS7MdCpAgAaus">https://str.sg/JWaA</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaP" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaP&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw30aXggYM8C7wM33kxtXcns">https://str.sg/JWaP</a> 
Google Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/Ju47" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/Ju47&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RMwrz08ZIJ-Im0BEzzF-K">https://str.sg/Ju47</a> 
SPH Awedio app:<a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.awedio.sg/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1omwsyXQuVz03K-MLOS1jf"> https://www.awedio.sg/</a>
Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3yLfl533-0UMiOO8XIiHV2">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: <a href="https://str.sg/Jbxc" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/Jbxc&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw05B0N3NpjKRx2BKsyK7SP1">https://str.sg/Jbxc</a>
Read Jan Lee's stories:<a href="https://str.sg/Jbxp" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/Jbxp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1657284018920000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0vOhLsAkvTRcf_D1u6YYdD"> https://str.sg/Jbxp</a>
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Health Check: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
ST Sports Talk: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Music Lab: <a href="https://str.sg/w9TX">https://str.sg/w9TX</a>
Discover ST Podcasts: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Discover BT Podcasts: <a href="https://bt.sg/pcPL">https://bt.sg/pcPL</a>
---
Special edition series:
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Invisible Asia (9 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn">https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
Stop Scams (10 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
---
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#PV

Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood industries.

Podcaster: Jan Lee

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust

Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood industries.
Podcaster: Jan Lee
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust

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