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Thailand influencer Sean Buranahiran’s fall from grace shows dangers of talking politics in divided nation
- The rapper-turned-life coach was flying high as an online influencer, with millions of followers and a glowing reputation
- That is until he made a few throwaway comments praising ex-army chief and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon
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With 4 million Facebook followers and a glowing reputation as a life coach belying his 29 years, social media influencer Sean Buranahiran was a golden boy of the Thai internet.
That was until he made a few throwaway comments flattering a former general who still plays a key role in the kingdom’s polarised politics.
Not only did it turn fans against him in their droves – he lost about 70,000 subscribers from his YouTube channel alone in the past 30 days, according to social media statistics tracking site Social Blade – it also sparked two police investigations into his finances and prodded online sleuths to dissect his online persona.
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This is more than just a cautionary tale on the febrile nature of social media, however. It is a reflection of the seething anger that can be found online in a politically divided country where junta generals now rule as civilian leaders and free expression is smothered.
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Buranahiran’s troubles began on June 23, when he told his fans about a tree-planting event in Chiang Mai where he met Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon – a 75-year-old former army chief and veteran establishment figure with a penchant for luxury watches who has been instrumental in outboxing Thailand’s pro-democracy movement over the years.
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