Christina Aguilera’s latest music video has much of Thailand decrying not its explicit dancing and revealing costumes, but a Thai-language billboard in the backdrop that alludes to the country’s sex industry. Saharat Wannachomphu, marketing director for BMG Thailand Co., the local distributors of Aguilera’s new album, said the company had decided not to service the video for the song “Dirrty” to local television, the Nation newspaper reported this week.
In the video, the scantily clad 21-year-old dances in a boxing ring next to a wall with posters in Thai that read “Thailand’s sex tourism” and “Young underage girls.” Thai officials have expressed their dismay with the video, which was aired repeatedly by the Nation’s cable television station on its news programs reporting the controversy. Saharat said BMG Thailand has informed its parent company in the U.S. the video has upset Thais.
The newspaper quoted Preecha Kantiya, acting director for the government’s Commission on Contemporary Arts Office, as saying local and foreign businessmen are too profit-oriented to present a genuine image of Thailand. Instead, they preferred to use Thailand’s seedier side to serve their business goals, he said. Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, it is widespread and generally ignored by police.
“Dirrty” is off to a bit of a slow start on U.S. radio. The cut dropped 50-65 last week on the Billboard Hot 100. Aguilera’s new album, “Stripped,” arrives Oct. 29.
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