PETA claws back at Thai drama director over anaesthetised cat

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) took to its Asia Facebook page to call for a ban on a Thai drama series director from working with animals after controversy erupted over the use of anaesthesia on a cat on set.

In one scene of the fifth episode of the historical drama series The Empress of Ayodhaya, the black cat was required to appear dead after supposedly consuming poisonous tea. The animal was seen shaking before lying still, impressing many fans of the series, who speculated that the cat was highly trained.

However, questions arose about how the director, Sant Srikaenlaw, managed to achieve this. One actress from the series disclosed that the production team anaesthetised the cat, and what the audience saw was a result of the anaesthesia.

This sparked controversy on Thai social media, with netizens urging a ban on the series, accusing the team of animal abuse. Some veterinarians joined the outcry, stating that anaesthesia carries significant risks for animals.

Sant attempted to quell the backlash by clarifying that the anaesthesia was administered under a specialist’s supervision and assured that the cat was now healthy. However, his explanation failed to satisfy critics.

The Animal Welfare and Veterinary Service Division of the Department of Livestock announced plans to summon the director, the production team, and representatives from One 31, the channel airing the series, for questioning as of yesterday, November 11. However, the summons has not yet been issued.

In response to the criticism, PETA Asia’s Facebook page issued a statement calling for a ban on the director from working with animals in the future. The statement read:

“Anesthetizing a cat when it is medically unnecessary always comes with a risk, so to do it for a scene in a TV show is reckless, dangerous, and cruel. Sant Srikaewlaw should be barred from ever working with animals again.

“The public is rightly outraged, especially knowing that today, anything is possible with CGI, AI, and animatronics. Cruelty has no place in entertainment. If you can’t make a TV show without risking the lives of animals, you’re in the wrong business.”

Many Thai netizens commented on the post, calling for international news outlets to cover the incident and bring attention to the alleged abuse. Some suggested that international media should shift their focus from the pygmy hippo Moo Deng to this issue for a time.

As of now, there has been no official ban on this episode or the entire series, and the contentious scene remains in the episode despite the public outcry.

ORIGINAL STORY: Thai drama series faces backlash after cat anaesthetised on set (video)

The Department of Livestock Development planned to summon the director and production team of the Thai historical drama series The Empress of Ayodhaya, also known as Mae Yhua, for questioning due to criticism over animal abuse after a black cat was anaesthetised during the production.

The Empress of Ayodhaya is a period drama inspired by the Queen of Ayutthaya, Sri Sudachan, who later became regent for her son Yot Fa after the death of King Chairacha. The queen reportedly lived from the early 1500s to 1548. The series is currently airing on One 31 and Netflix.

The leading actors include Teerapat “Tui” Sajakul as King Chairacha, with the four queens being Davikha “Mai” Hoorne as Sri Sudachan, Panward “Pei” Hemmanee as Inthorn Suren, Sireethorn “Bint” Leearamwat as Sri Julaluck, and Nopjira “Fern” Lerkkajornnamkul as Inthorn Thewee.

Controversy over the series has emerged previously, with some audiences questioning whether the drama accurately reflects historical information. However, the production team clarified that the director was inspired by the history of Sri Sudachan and added fictional elements to make the series more engaging.

Some viewers also pointed out inconsistencies, such as the appearance of Inthorn Suren, whose gel-polished nails were deemed inappropriate for the Ayutthaya period. Others noted that the baby in the series wore a disposable diaper, which would not have been used at that time.

The most recent criticism arose after episode 5, which aired last week. The viral scene involved Inthorn Thewee, who feared her tea might be poisoned, so she allowed a black cat to drink it. The cat was shown having a seizure and dying, supposedly helping Inthorn Thewee to escape the poisoning.

Clarification from director

Many fans praised the cat for its performance, noting how convincingly it played dead, even shaking before its death. Others, however, criticised how the director made the animal act so neatly.

One actress in the series, Mollywan “Jah” Phantarak, who played a close servant of Inthorn Thewee, clarified on her X (formerly Twitter) account that the cat was anaesthetised to make the scene more realistic, as the animal was shaking during the play.

This sparked huge criticism of the actress, the director, and the production team, leading to the hashtag #แบนแม่หยัว (#BanMaeYhua) trending on Thai X.

Another actress, Bint, also faced backlash for commenting under Jah’s post. Netizens criticised Bint for encouraging animal abuse, even though she is a former veterinarian. Bint later issued an apology on social media for her careless remark.

The director of The Empress of Ayodhaya, Sant Srikaenlaw, eventually addressed the issue on his Facebook account, explaining that the anaesthesia was administered under the supervision of a specialist. He emphasised that the cat regained consciousness afterwards and did not exhibit any side effects.

Sant also promised to take the cat for a thorough health check and share the medical certification with netizens.

Call for legal punishment

However, the controversy did not subside, as many were unimpressed by Sant’s failure to apologise for the animal abuse. Critics argued that, regardless of whether the cat survived, the director should never use such a method in the first place. Some veterinarians also shared concerns that anaesthesia could have fatal consequences for the cat.

Netizens demanded that the production team reveal the name of the specialist and urged sponsors to withdraw their support for the series. Many also called on relevant government departments to take legal action against the production team.

In response, the Animal Welfare and Veterinary Service Division of the Department of Livestock has planned to summon the director and production team for questioning this afternoon, November 11. The department will also conduct a health check on the cat featured in the series to ensure its well-being.