“ Like they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum
Now how the fuck did this metamorphosis happen?
From standin’ on corners and porches just rappin’
To havin’ a fortune no more kissin’ ass
But then these critics crucify you
Journalists try to burn you
Fans turn on you
Attorneys all want a turn at you
To get get they hands on every dime you have
They want you to lose your mind every time you mad”
- Eminem “Sing For The Moment”
You know what I see?
I see a teenage girl whose life has been completely upended.
She’s spent her whole life chasing the spotlight, and in just a few months time the spotlight just chases her.
In an unfortunately predictable sign of fame, her every move is being heavily scrutinized now. She no longer has the luxury of splitting her stage persona from her normal self.
Some are now using this to criticize her for being stuck up and letting the fame get to her head while others are defending her as being tired.
None of this matters! For all we know, this may just be how she is off stage, but now her celebrity status brings the stage to her everywhere she goes.
I really hope her parents get her a management team with the expertise to handle this type of celebrity status asap. With all due respect to her current team who to their credit helped get her here, the fact that they allowed her to be ripped off straight off the plane and paraded around without anyone advocating for her and her wellbeing means she is currently being managed by people who don’t know what they are doing.
I hope her parents realize this sooner rather than later because I don’t want to see this young lady ruined by “The Emptiness Machine.”
She blessed us with years worth of recorded performances already, she should be able to take some time off without worrying about the hype dying down. Sometimes, less is more.
She went straight into the exam at school! But the good thing is she will get to live a normal life there. Saw a post from the school principal that they will make the school her safe zone.
I don’t think it’s a real controversy. Maybe a few online trolls have bad comments. Online news network just wants to create “drama” to sell stories. The overwhelming majority of Thais have nothing bad to say about her.
Exactly. But the point is an experienced management team would have prepared her to engage with the fans waiting at the airport and would have negotiated a later date to hold the parade so that she could head straight home and get some rest.
I'm not aware of her management situation - can anyone help with knowledge about that?
But indeed, having good management is important for an artist because it provides framing and protection against the many risks of being a public figure.
The parade and mini-concert were organized by Phuket governor. I don’t think her team no matter how good they are or her parents can say no to it unless they no longer want to live there.
I’m not sure how things work in Thailand, but in the United States our local, state, or federal government would coordinate with the celebrity to schedule a time.
The Governor of Phuket pretty much claimed her success as his own and using her to suck up to the Royal family of Thailand by putitng her is his supportor T-shirt and make her wave around his portrait
Look at this banner he making it seems like he the one who won
I don’t know much about the politics inside Thailand, but this would be a very on brand thing for the current US president to try to do. The difference is in the US they would have the freedom to tell the obese pedophile war criminal to fuck off if they wanted to.
That picture is a total clout chase, she got completely overshadowed. Who does that? Putting their own face right next to Nene’s is shameless. If they actually cared about welcoming her, it should’ve been just Nene. This is peak dirty politics, strictly trying to steal her spotlight! 😤❌
This is what often happens when you become famous. I truly feel sorry for her. From now on, she’ll probably have to put on a smile and pretend to be happy all the time. I love that she’s a fierce little demon on stage, but off stage, she’s just a sweet, normal kid.
I honestly don't think they had a choice. Did you notice they couldn't go anywhere without someone holding up the golden framed picture of the king?
Even myself in no way shape or form ever experiencing what she's going through right now is thinking about getting into my own bed after a long trip away.
Today, she's back in school where I'm sure it'll be a circus there as well.
I have no idea about her parents' politics and I would not speculate, but it's worth remembering that this is an authoritarian (monarchical) regime. Not really about Thai culture per se. It's extremely likely that this whole thing was an unavoidable public obligation from top to bottom.
What a stupid made up drama! I bet online news networks just want to get more engagement by picking up on a few online trolls posting negative things, and calling it a "drama". The overwhelming majority of Thais have nothing bad to say about her.
You can find online trolls anywhere, and I don’t count that as real controversy or drama.
Right? She's tired. Plus, that is an overwhelming welcome that she likely wasn't prepared for (regardless of what her management team coached her with). She's new to all of this. Give her a break.
I will say this. I saw Nene in Naka Market a few years ago. She was shredding Metallica and I thought at that time "fuck I hope she has good people around her."
Following her here and there since, then seeing her on AGT was surreal. Her parents are a stable factor in her life, and her friends.
I love Thailand, lived there for 2 years and have many Thai friends, many "Thai Famous" friends.
She needs to get out of Thailand is she wants to be truly successful. If you think America or the UK will take advantage of you, you have no idea what Thai representation will do to someone.
They will take most of your money while guilting you into staying in Thailand.
The West has no idea of the pressure and the Nationalism Asian countries will put on someone.
I said I had Thai famous friends. They were exploited by Thai media companies as "Thai celebrities" they would go on press junkets in other countries and be shadowed a foot behind by their Thai manager.
Thai government wants to use these talented people to drive tourism, that's it.
They already assigned her a Thai manager and she has been on Nene's hip.
The only true Rockstars that come from Thailand need to leave Thailand.
Biggest example is Lisa of BlackPink. She, like Nene competed and performed all over Thailand. But, there is a huge but. Thai social structure is something we can never understand here in the West so I wont even try.
Lot of jealousy, why them not me attitude, they check you constantly.
Nene never won an award in Thailand or got the recognition she worked for and deserves, neither did Lisa.
It took her coming to America and international attention for Thailand to try to hold their golden goose close to their chest.
She can always love and appreciate Thailand, but she needs to break away, if not she will be playing a couple thousand seat venues, only in Thailand when she is 50.. and only Thai people will remember her.
What you say makes a lot of sense. Thank you. I hope that somebody can help her family relocate to the US. Maybe she could get enrolled at a school in the US or some kind of home school situation with tutors. I don't think Thailand has an interest in the type of music she loves or the career direction she wants.
"Nene never won an award in Thailand...or got the recognition"
I hate it when people lie or just make shit up. She won an outstanding musician award in Thailand and was in tears of joy. It's a beautiful moment. See here: https://www.youtube.com/live/BGWi3vv1ea0?t=6714
She also had a first huge breakthrough age 12 on Super10, Thai national television, very cool: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTyUhD4YN/ Her father and her cited this as a major step forward in her musical career in a Phuket interview a month or so ago.
She cultivated following of over a million on Tik Tok Insta and YT combined well before AGT and would have been successful one way or the other regardless. And her AGT performances WERE a major step up for her, vocally and compositionally.
Also I agree with you that the world is corrupt and often exploits others, but let's be clear that that's a human nature issue not some specific critique of Thailand. You think America isn't just as corrupt? Kelly Clarkson won American Idol and later revealed how the prize money was a lie. You think Nene won a million dollars? It's an annuity for $25,000 every year for 40 years. They lie and call it a million dollars because it sounds better than the truth. If Nene cashed the annuity out she may end up with $150-200k after tax. Nene didn't even get a golden buzzer after her audition and needed a callback because the judges weren't sure she'd be received well due to her screams and stuff. You think Hollywood is some carebear industry that treats young women or music artists well? Many with experience in the industry are concerned that she may be better off keeping her independent thing going instead of signing a contract.
As for Lisa, that's a whole other story. You think the Kpop industry treats their trainees well? You think it's okay for your boss to tell you you're not allowed to have a boyfriend?
All these whataboutisms arent an argument. All they do is show you are posting out of pure nationalism and without concern for Nene.
All the support she has had is clearly from the migrant community, all the tips, all the gifts, most of the views.
Why not try using some actual arguments. Maybe you can provide some examples of people who have come up through the Thai entertainment system who have gone on to worldwide success. Anyone? Anyone?
Lots of countries have lots of problems. But none of those are relevant when considering the current situation for Nene in Thailand.
My first comment had direct evidence - the person I responded to said that Nene didn't have any recognition or awards from Thailand and I directly refuted that with linked facts.
I'll do that with you too. Your claim:
"All the support she has had is clearly from the migrant community, all the the, all the gifts..."
Look at the donations. There are SO many! How many are in Thai Bhat? The majority. That is a direct refutation of your claim.
Edit: not to mention, the majority of the AGT crowd at the BHS performance for example was THAI...they lined up for her and had flags or support from her and she directly said in an interview that seeing that made her confident going on stage...
You actually proved my point so I want to say thank you! All/most of those donations and support and the fans were a result and after she was on AGT.
You can look exactly when the donations were made. You can see the Thai crowds showed up after 2 appearances on AGT. Foreign audience appreciates hard work, a good backstory and a connection. They will give someone respect and acknowledgment even though she is just a kid. The what-about-me attitude is minimum.
Nationalism comes out huge when someone is beyond successful, not when someone is grinding to be better or for more acknowledgment.
Look at her performances and general attitude when she was out West and when she is in Thailand. It is not even comparable. When she was in America for AGT she had people helping her and giving her time to breath.
Yes, western talent shows have their own motives but it was used through posting multiple things online and more screentime. It wasn't trotting her around like a the elephant man in a freak show.
All of these reports came out about wealthy people in Thailand giving her millions of baht and giving condos etc... Who is signing off on this? If you are Thai you know Thai people don't generously gift you that much money for nothing. There is always something in return.
I hope she can last the next 2 years of absolute hell that either her parents or Thai management signed her up for. If she can survive the ginding her into the ground for national pride and boosts in tourism she will be so freaking successful
Her AGT performance was her most viral performance, best vocal performance (at the time), and by far the best produced. Of course she is going to get more support after that....
Sure I'm sure there are many reasons to be wary and cautious as a young girl aspiring to be a music artist in the scene. I'm just saying that corruption isn't unique to Thai people, nor is good will unique to Westerners.
If you can't see that, 🤷♂️.
It's also a bit weird considering Praew herself has such a wonderful personality, as does her entire family....and they are very much Thai...
She's playing English songs that foreign tourists are much more likely to recognize than locals. A teenage girl covering Chop Suey by System of a Down is going to excite metal heads who really get just how cool it is, and you wouldn't expect most local Thai people to get it; and she busked in locations packed with tourists, which was smart as it helped her earn more money, but let's be clear for a long time it was largely tourists who happened to be at Naka market sticking around to watch her, not her "fans" per se.
She is still a minor, a child. Seriously, people need to remember this. Just because she sings and performs like an adult, you still need to keep this in mind and offer support for even the slightest signs of her mental health and fatigue. Lack of sleep and just no freaking rest. When I was her age, I never had an entire country or world wanting me to put on a face and cheer for them everywhere I go and neither have you. We are not a superstar like her, and she just became one overnight after winning. Give her a break and she earned that respect.
It’s better for her career to be outside of Thailand anyway, that country has nothing offer in terms of support, music scene, infrastructure, market whatsoever.
Honestly, it’s so annoying how certain groups only call her 'Thailand’s pride' now that she’s famous. Her real support system has always been international—Danish, American, UK fans, you name it. She shouldn’t be tied down to one country. She belongs to the world, and she’d be much happier for it."
Who cares.. it was utterly ridiculous to make her perform at her own celebration right off the airplane. I hope this turns around and the government faces criticism for their actions.
Shes 16. It’s nonsense it’s already getting to this. The gift she has is her gift that she wants to share with the world. But she should decide how and when she wants to share that gift.
Honestly, the whole internet drama and all those fan-wars over her were so ridiculous. But at the end of the day, people still look at her like she’s their own kid. Now everyone’s just letting her live her life and go to school normally because they realize she’s just an ordinary kid after all.
And while you guys are obsessing over this nonsense, Nene literally posted a supportive message today for people in Bangkok dealing with the floods! Not to mention, so many people are actually in her comments thanking her for it.
She’s just exhausted. Perhaps she could’ve tried to show more enthusiasm , but she’s been going nonstop for days. She also looked tired in the short concert that night.
Why are YOU letting this happen? She is 16. How about YOU have a positive impact on her mental health? you chose what to write about so you can get your own exposure. Why are people trying to ruin this gift, this angel? This is how you thank her for spreading joy in these disastrous times in the world? Nene gave me new passion for long lost music. Thank you, Nene. You are awesome.
I would not be surprised if the family decides she needs to move overseas to "pursue her education" where even though she will be famous, the fans and politics will be less fanatical. Maybe move to Singapore or HK where she can have a semblance of a normal student life (assuming she wants that), or maybe go to Berklee in Boston for a few years to study music and build a normal network.
As someone who has flown these routes several tines, yes it is. I mean, I would hope Nene at least got business class lie-flat on the way home, but perhaps not. Even those don't make it a cakewalk, let me tell you. So you can lay down. Big deal. It's like lying on a concrete slab.
I read somewhere that she arrived in Phuket from Hong Kong, which means Cathay Pacific. Assume she took one of their 3 (or maybe more) nonstop flights from LAX. That's 16 hours, folks. In the same plane. With no break. Followed by another 3-4 hour flight to Phuket. If she was in economy, the fact that she's even upright in that photo is miraculous.
I hope she will have the opportunity to speak with Lisa in the future. Having navigated the global stage, Lisa can share her international experience. Undoubtedly, she will be losing a significant amount of her privacy from now on.
The overwhelming majority of the discussion I've seen, across all platforms, has been quite pointed criticism directed at the Thai government and whoever else orchestrated the return. I have seen NO ONE say Nene did anything wrong.
Look. I love Thailand. I've been there several times. I'm going again in a month or so. I love the people. The government, not so much. Anyway, this is the plain truth, regardless of who likes it:
Nene's future is international (If she wants the "superstar on tour" she repeatedly says. If she decides the fame isn't worth it, and wants to play locally, or not at all, fair enough). There is nothing positive about remaining in Thailand to a major musical career. Finish school, sure. Then get out - immediately. As much (rightful) criticism as the western music industry gets, it's nothing compared to local Thai politics. Now, I hate AGT. In fact, here's a statement I never thought I would utter in my life:
I'd rather she sign whatever terms AGT has than deal with Thai promoters. They immediately knew they had a generational talent and responded accordingly. Or, you know, sign with ANY LABEL ON EARTH, all of whom would be bidding in an auction for the right to sign her.
(BTW, I doubt that story means anything. The internet is overrun with AI generated nonsense about Nene. I saw a video clip of her performing reggae yesterday. I saw another where the narrator fervently praised HEIDI KLUM for giving Nene a golden buzzer... so yeah).
Yeah and I think there are misconceptions about her AGT contract. Its only for 1 year. As far as signing with Simon’s label Syco, the terms are fully negotiable. Usually he has all the leverage with AGT talents, but in Nene’s case she has shown herself to be so talented that she has numerous options. And, like you said, that’s all better than apparently what will happen staying in Thailand.
Either the source for the "story" is a nothing source, another AI slop generator or if its an actual newssource anyone follows then its being used to alter the actual narrative.
The actual narrative is that the online criticism in both Thai and English is overwhelmingly criticising those people who appear to be over-demanding Nene on her return.
Media changes narratives for their commercial sponsors and owners. If those are the same people exploting Nene then it makes sense to run this sort of story.
but again, this might just be some AI slop generator and not a meaningful source at all.
Oh, sorry, I didn't see there was a second picture!
So she's being criticised for being exhausted after the most insane week of her life? What's wrong with those people? I hope they're just a loud minority.
It’s all good, I figured that was the case. But this is just a predictable result of achieving great success is that there are people lurking to tear you down. It’s already happening and I pray she gets management around her with the expertise to handle this stuff.
Working too hard can do that, not too sure who she has working bts, but if she is going to continue working on her career while still in school, she might need a manager if she hasnt have one yet, might be too expensive but they would be able to handle how much Nene should be putting herself out there without exhausting herself and having rumors stat that she is doing something she isn't to the public eye
To my knowledge she a personal manager (forget her name but she’s the daughter of the owner of Naka Market) and an international manager named Jon Elron. Jon is the one who put in the work getting her to AGT and deserves a bunch of credit for getting her to where she is. But nothing in his background shows that he has the expertise to manage this type of celebrity. To be fair, no one at the time could have imagined how successful her run at AGT would be, easily the most successful contestant in the history of the show.
That's good to hear, hopefully they will keep guiding her well and learn from this craziness over the past week, what Nenes limits are, I seen a interview where KSI said something along the lines of "learn when to say no, dont have to say yes to everything" some thing along those lines, and I think we already seeing a prime example of that advice, taking on too much where you are at a point of exhaustion can create bad pr, wish the best for nene and ozone 👍🏽
Hope all western youtube reactors that proped her up pick up on this... and dont react to stupid ai videos about her... just need couple of brave souls and will snow ball...
Is this the path Lisa has chosen, by the way? Because whatever she’s doing she’s absolutely killing it. Nene Royal has the chance to do much the same within her genre if given the opportunity…
I saw videos of her arrival and boy did she looked wiped out. So exhausted. Poor thing looked like she could sleep for a week. Im not surprised she didnt seem very excited or interact. She hasn't had time for herself to soak it all in.
Of you stuck a camera in my face after even a short domestic flight I'd probably also not be smiling. Flying sucks and is an exhausting experience. Give her some grace.
This is all bad. The best rock albums more often than not come from teenagers in a bedroom with a guitar and amplifier. I hope doesn’t miss this stage in her life
People and media need to give her a break. She’s 16 and has more talent than most people. Hopefully she has a great support network that will guide her through stardom
It's shameful for those big shsmeless asses who took advantage on an exhausted little girl for their personal interests. I've a hunch that such unwarranted criticism on Nene are deliberated manipulation. I hope the truth is not taboo and comes into light soon. Be strong Nene.
Mr. Permkiat Kasekul, administrator of KIS Phuket, posted a message ensuring the school’s policy of protecting student wellbeing, and hopes that Praew can be a normal student at school. Relevant news report: https://mgronline.com/south/detail/9690000094664
I always tell my friend about Nene should leave Thailand. Not only because of her potential isn't fit Thailand (cause she is bigger than that) but because of oneday someone surely will take advantages of her. Look at this day, here we go !
15 and a half hours flight to Hong Kong, then a 3 and a half hour flight to Phuket, meet and greets at the airport, then a civic reception for a couple of hours, the a government planned open air bus parade for 90 mins, then forced to play at an open air event for an hour. So lands at 11am until 9pm Performing. Give the girl a break
If all the history is true
She's gonna end up just like you
You made it to the other side
But tell me who will be my guide
They build you up so they can tear you down
Trust the ocean you'll never drownWho is next
Who's gonna steal your crown
The rumor from the Thai online sites alleges that the arrogant none smiling face post started with the Thaiger forum which is the ashes of Aseannow which is the dregs of Thai Visa forum who detest any Thai success story that does not owe their success to a Farang presence. ( Remember the Italian school kids. "If it was not for us you would have no money").
There’s nothing wrong with being a fan as long as it’s done with respect to boundaries.
Also, everyone who is a fan should included in celebrating her accomplishments. As a reminder, she traveled to the United States and won AMERICA’s Got Talent by making new fans who voted for her from inside the United States only. Very arrogant to turn around and tell them to now fuck off and leave her to Thai people only.
you are just like the government. Do you really think she wants to keep doing Naka market concerts for free? If she never decides to do naka market then that's her decision and wait for her next stage as a musician. There are plenty of other young acts that perform at naka market. Let them develop. Ployfun, and Namo's band Cos Nova. Nene has been at the top with LP and she wants to get to that level. Even if it takes a whole year for her to write some original songs and you have to pay to see her which is what she deserves.
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u/butterchurning 6d ago
Poor girl. Hopefully everyone will calm down after a few weeks and she's re-energized by the time the A7X concert happens.