Outrage Sparked in Thailand Over Apple's 'Out of Office' Advert

[snoop1130]

 

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed gratitude to Apple for filming their latest ad in Thailand. According to a government representative, Thavisin believes the ad will enhance Thailand's global appeal and boost their tourism sector.

 

However, the release of Apple's fifth installment of the "Underdogs" series, "OOO (Out of Office)," was met with negative responses from Thai internet users. They contend that the ad portrays Thailand and its people in an unflattering manner, leading to outrage and severe criticism. This reaction resulted in Apple disabling comments on the ad's YouTube page.

 

Aired ten days prior, the ad had garnered 5.1 million views on YouTube as of July 28th. The ten-minute film, labeled a comedy thriller, features four employees of a company trying to meet their clients' needs in Thailand. One employee, based in the US, participates using Apple Vision Pro, while the others experience various small escapades, demonstrating 31 features of Apple devices.

 

The post-production additions of a sepia filter to the scenes sparked controversy. Some Thai viewers argued it made their country appear underdeveloped, while others suggested it was an attempt to depict Thailand's past. However, this interpretation was clouded by the appearance of the iPhone 15, a device not available during that era.

 

 

Other negative portrayals include run-down airport scenes, unkempt taxi drivers, and poor accommodation. The characters also travel on an old and crowded bus, which many Thai internet users argue is no longer a reality in their country. Critics argue a modern depiction of Thailand, with advanced transportation and accommodations, would have been more accurate.

 

David William, a long-term resident of Thailand and popular English tutor with 1.8 million Facebook and 2.9 million TikTok followers, also criticized the ad. He said it painted an unattractive and outdated picture of Thailand to the world. He contrasted this with Apple ads shot in US cities, which positively portrayed those locations. In a Facebook video that received 15,000 comments and 13,000 shares, he threatened to switch to Samsung if Apple continued to denigrate Thailand.

 

Another critic claimed to protest Apple's misrepresentation by selling all his Apple devices.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-07-29

 

 

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[MartinBangkok]

It never stops amazing me how Thais, and other Asian people, vehemently refuse to accept any criticism from "white" people.

 

If you are a Thai reading this, try travelling by bus or train in a western developed country, and then make an honest comparissment with Thailand.

[rocketboy2]

1 hour ago, MartinBangkok said:

It never stops amazing me how Thais, and other Asian people, vehemently refuse to accept any criticism from "white" people.

 

If you are a Thai reading this, try travelling by bus or train in a western developed country, and then make an honest comparissment with Thailand.

 

Maybe best to keep them all here. 

[ikke1959]

But other films are banned and blocked in Thailand.....And they are really good movies but nobody in Thailand may see the truth

[NoDisplayName]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Other negative portrayals include run-down airport scenes, unkempt taxi drivers, and poor accommodation.

 

So the producers have done their due diligence.

 

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The characters also travel on an old and crowded bus, which many Thai internet users argue is no longer a reality in their country.

 

Bwahhahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!

Hub of hurt butts.

 

 

[BangkokReady]

Thailand and Thai people come over very well in this advert.  I just went and watched it.

 

You can see that the team wanted to go a little bit retro, harking back to a time when tourism was more popular and Thai people were a lot happier and more welcoming.

 

They obviously wanted to use unusual transport to make the advert more interesting and the story more challenging.  They didn't use any vehicle that you don't see on a Thai road on a daily basis.

 

The Thai tourist authority should take notes, not criticise.

 

I realise that Thailand wants to move away from being seen as a tourist destination, and they would like it if the world viewed it more like London, New York or Singapore, as some sort of modern business hub, but that's being a tad unrealistic.  You have to put the work in before people will recognise it.

[JeffersLos]

What's going on, a bloke got his apples out at the office and it sparked outrage?

[Lorry]

Get a million boxes ready within 5 days,  with no advance notice - that's what China is famous for, not Thailand nor any other country. 

But to say that wouldn't be opportune.

[Peabody]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed gratitude to Apple for filming their latest...

I was confused, 'cuz when I first saw the headline, I thought it was about him!  🙂

[BigStar]

51 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

I realise that Thailand wants to move away from being seen as a tourist destination, and they would like it if the world viewed it more like London, New York or Singapore, as some sort of modern business hub, but that's being a tad unrealistic.

 

London, New York, and Singapore are major tourist destinations. Bangkok is a modern business hub as well as a tourist destination.

[CallumWK]

I can see they got promised the boxes in 6 days, they conveniently didn't include what happened on the 6th day.

Sure, most who have ever done business here know how that went

[BigStar]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

David William, a long-term resident of Thailand and popular English tutor with 1.8 million Facebook and 2.9 million TikTok followers, also criticized the ad. He said it painted an unattractive and outdated picture of Thailand to the world.

 

And he's right.

 

Now, BKK does of course offer cheap hotels and tuk-tuks. Budget travel is certainly possible, and a good thing that is, too. 

 

BUT these gay travelers are on a company expense account and would travel in standard business style. Furthermore, they'd be dealing with higher-level professional business-to-business types (Chinese Thais) who can get things done. So the selection bias shown towards Thailand throughout the ad is quite condescending and plays to outdated stereotypes. It would certainly give a false impression to unwashed tourists who've never traveled here as well as potential business investors.

 

I can see why Thais would find it annoying. So do I.

 

 

[rattlesnake]

3 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

It never stops amazing me how Thais, and other Asian people, vehemently refuse to accept any criticism from "white" people.

 

If you are a Thai reading this, try travelling by bus or train in a western developed country, and then make an honest comparissment with Thailand.

The chances of being stabbed by a djihadi radical are much lower in Thailand.

[GammaGlobulin]

2 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

So the producers have done their due diligence.

 

 

Bwahhahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!

Hub of hurt butts.

 

 

 

Yes, but..

Do you see that Old Farang in the Cargo Shorts?

So, this is a very accurate depiction.

 

Most Farang tourists DO look this slovenly.

 

Apple got this part...RIGHT!

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, JeffersLos said:

What's going on, a bloke got his apples out at the office and it sparked outrage?

 

It's just more utter nonsense...

Similar to the Dining Scene at the French Olympics.

 

[soi3eddie]

Can't see what all the fuss is about. Good production. Quite commical. Made me think about The Hangover Part 2 movie.  Chill peeps!

 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed gratitude to Apple for filming their latest ad in Thailand. According to a government representative, Thavisin believes the ad will enhance Thailand's global appeal and boost their tourism sector.

Utterly delusional.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed gratitude to Apple for filming their latest ad in Thailand. According to a government representative, Thavisin believes the ad will enhance Thailand's global appeal and boost their tourism sector.

 

However, the release of Apple's fifth installment of the "Underdogs" series, "OOO (Out of Office)," was met with negative responses from Thai internet users. They contend that the ad portrays Thailand and its people in an unflattering manner, leading to outrage and severe criticism. This reaction resulted in Apple disabling comments on the ad's YouTube page.

So a sequel is unlikely... lol

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

It never stops amazing me how Thais, and other Asian people, vehemently refuse to accept any criticism from "white" people.

Pinkies tell porkies...

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 Some Thai viewers argued it made their country appear underdeveloped, while others suggested it was an attempt to depict Thailand's past.

Other negative portrayals include run-down airport scenes, unkempt taxi drivers, and poor accommodation. The characters also travel on an old and crowded bus, which many Thai internet users argue is no longer a reality in their country. Critics argue a modern depiction of Thailand, with advanced transportation and accommodations, would have been more accurate.

Truth hurts huh?

[stopthecap]

Great Ad, well made and shows thailand for what I imagine thailand to be, going back in time.

[DjSilver08]

If an add would make people look stupid, even if it's true. Learn to live with it 🤣

[10baht]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

was met with negative responses from Thai internet users

Do they mean Thai nations internet users? or internet users in Thailand. I suspect a whole different response from those non-myopic users.

[Classic Ray]

“Mai mee” and “Moat” the two common phrases customers hear in Thai shops/businesses.

 

If they could get the supply chain, stock control and logistics sorted, they could be world beating manufacturers and suppliers. 
 

it’s become worse since Covid, and now even the auto industry and parts suppliers are being badly affected by. Chinese EVs flooding in with little to no Thai content, and ever plummeting prices. 
 

Some serious measures need to be taken by the Thai government to revive industry and consumer confidence.

[Robbkk]

10 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

It never stops amazing me how Thais, and other Asian people, vehemently refuse to accept any criticism from "white" people.

 

 

Only David William seems to be outraged. This article was written by foreigners and they only interviewed foreigners.

 

Comments are turned off for all the Apple videos by the way.

 

 

[Jonathan Swift]

I think Thai people just don't understand the humor. I've told jokes many times that Thai people don't get because of cultural divide. Many Americans don't get British humor. This to me is a collection of dysfunctional doofuses trying to make their way through humorous situations which are exaggerated for comedic effect, whereas Thais just don't get comedic American satire and visual buffoonery. I think if Thai people are familiar with American culture they'd understand the humor and not take it as and insult. They might just as well have chosen New York and made fun of all its quirks, the New Yorkers would have laughed because it's their city and they know its quirks. 

[malibukid]

well they have not been to Chiang Mai, no modern buses just red trucks that will jar you kidneys and should have been scraped years ago.

[sumongkhwai]

It's been a few years but, when the brother-in-law isn't available to pick us up from BKK we take the "express" bus (only like a dozen stops) from Mo Chit to Lopburi to see family. The buses are beaters but, I generally enjoy the ride (and a small bottle of SangSom helps out a bit). We've also taken the train from Ayutthaya (visiting family and I really enjoy the museums and archeological sites although my wife has had her fill on my history lessons about Thailand) to BKK and those train too are beaters, no A/C etc. but, I enjoys the ride and the scenery. There are parts of Thailand that haven't changed in the last 20-40 years which is probably why it's considered a developing nation I reckon. I haven't seen the Apple video yet, will need to check it out.

[malibukid]

7 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I can see they got promised the boxes in 6 days, they conveniently didn't include what happened on the 6th day.

Sure, most who have ever done business here know how that went

took 5 days to get something sent up from Bangkok express.  i think it must have gone by elephant. lol  common experience. 

[herfiehandbag]

11 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

If you are a Thai reading this, try travelling by bus or train in a western developed country, and then make an honest comparissment with Thailand.

You don't have to go that far, Malaysia or Indonesia would suffice!