Thai actor apologises to Indian fans after controversial TV show segment

Thai actor Fourth Nattawat apologised after a TV segment upset Indian fans. The backlash has renewed debate on cultural representation and cross-cultural humour. Fourth Nattawat Jirochtikul apologised to Indian fans over TV segment. (Credit: Instagram/fourth.ig/X/ Asia Nexus @nexusasian) New Delhi, Oct 9, 2026 10:53 IST A guessing game on a Thai television show has sparked backlash among Indian fans, prompting actor Fourth Nattawat Jirochtikul to apologise for his actions. The incident took place during Fourth and Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak’s appearance on A Thai Late-Night Show, hosted by Katanyu Sawangsri. During a round of charades, Fourth made exaggerated gestures while trying to guess the words “Bollywood Hero”, leaving several Indian viewers offended. Gemini also faced criticism for laughing during the segment. Fourth addressed the controversy in a post on X on October 8, 2026, saying he had never intended to mock any race. He also apologised to Indian fans who felt hurt by his actions, acknowledging that his behaviour during the game may have offended. Fourth Nattawat faces strong backlash for using exaggerated Bollywood stereotypes during a TV segment. His mocking head movements and gestures were deeply disrespectful and insulting to Indian culture. Such crude stereotyping is unacceptable entertainment and deserves accountability, an apology and greater cultural awareness.— Asia Nexus (@nexusasian) October 8, 2026 The actor reiterated his support for equality and diversity, explaining that the gestures were part of a game. However, he accepted that his intentions did not negate the impact his actions may have had on viewers. In his apology, Fourth wrote, “I have always affirmed and supported equality and diversity, and I always will. I truly assure you that I had no intention and no thought of mocking any race whatsoever. I sincerely maintain that it was merely part of playing a game. However, I want to apologise from the bottom of my heart if any of my actions hurt the feelings of anyone, whoever they may be, and especially the Indian fans. This will serve as an important lesson for me to improve my behaviour moving forward.” What happened on the show? During the segment, Fourth was blindfolded and tasked with guessing “Bollywood Hero”, with Gemini helping him figure out the clue without saying the words aloud. As Gemini used gestures to guide him, Fourth responded with exaggerated head movements, outstretched arms and dramatic expressions. He also sang ‘Dhoom Machale’ while attempting to guess the answer, but was unable to get it right. A clip of the segment subsequently drew criticism from Indian viewers, who felt the gestures reinforced stereotypes about Indian dance and culture. Many argued that the issue was not the format of the game itself, but the way Indian culture appeared to be represented during the segment. Several fans also pointed out that India has a rich and diverse dance heritage, spanning classical, folk and contemporary styles. They felt that reducing this variety to a handful of exaggerated movements risked misrepresenting the country's cultural traditions. How did Indian fans react? While the clip upset several viewers, Fourth’s apology was welcomed by some Indian fans, who said they wanted him to understand why the segment had hurt them. Many stressed that their intention was to highlight the issue and encourage greater cultural sensitivity, rather than attack the actor personally. The controversy has also renewed conversations about cultural representation in entertainment and the importance of being mindful of how gestures and humour may be perceived across different audiences. Born on October 18, 2004, Fourth Nattawat Jirochtikul entered the entertainment industry after winning Thailand School Star in 2019, a breakthrough that paved the way for his acting career. He is currently pursuing a law degree at Chulalongkorn University and has appeared in shows such as F4: Thailand. Fourth rose to wider prominence through Thai boys’ love (BL) dramas, particularly his on-screen collaborations with Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak. - Ends