By The Associated Press
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP)--One of pop singer Christina Aguilera's latest music videos has Thais 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 air the video for the song "Dirrty'' on 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.
The Nation 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.
Saharat told the Nation newspaper BMG Thailand has informed its parent company in the United States the video has upset Thais.
Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, it is widespread and generally ignored by police.
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Aguilera Upsets Thais
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