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| Cao Tiankai’s Offhand Thailand Comment Triggers Cross-Border Controversy (Photo: Chinapress) |
Chinese short-drama actor Cao Tiankai has landed in hot water after a casual comment about Thailand made during a livestream set off a wave of online criticism, particularly among Thai fans.
The moment happened during a live broadcast while Cao was getting his make-up done on set. Chatting freely with fans, he mentioned that some celebrity friends had invited him to holiday in Thailand.
However, he admitted he felt hesitant about going, joking that he was worried about being “sold” there.
Trying to keep things light, Cao laughed at himself, saying he tends to be too trusting when travelling and could easily be fooled.
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He exaggerated the point by joking that if someone tempted him with sweets, he might follow them without thinking, adding that he could “disappear” within half an hour of landing. He ended the topic by saying he preferred travelling around China, as there were still many places at home he had not explored.
What was meant as self-mocking humour did not land well with everyone.
After clips from the livestream spread across Thai social media, some viewers felt the remarks were inappropriate and unfair, especially coming from someone who has never visited the country.
Critics argued that his words leaned on online rumours and painted Thailand in an unflattering light.
Disappointment quickly turned into action for some fans. A number of Thai supporters publicly said they would stop following him, while others called for his short dramas not to be broadcast or translated locally.
Comments ranged from urging him not to judge places he has never been to, to fans announcing they had unfollowed his accounts.
Following the controversy, netizens dug up his old posts to determine whether he holds anti-Thailand or anti-SEA views
Cao Tian Kai, 36, is from Jiangsu and has spent around a decade in the Chinese entertainment industry. He first gained attention for his striking appearance as a “trainer”-type figure, before branching out into variety shows and screen acting.
In recent years, he has become a familiar face in China’s booming short-drama scene, often cast as calm, authoritative characters such as company executives or military officers.
Thanks to that image, his popularity has surged over the past one to two years, placing him among the most in-demand male leads in short dramas.
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His recent works include May All Woman Be Free, A Blind Girl Mistook Her Husband for a Rough Man, The Beloved and Pampered, and Ardent Love.
The incident has also reopened a wider conversation about cross-cultural sensitivity in the age of livestreaming. As one Thai netizen neatly put it, “The world is big. Seeing a place for yourself is always better than living on someone else’s stories.”