In "Sat.1-Frühstücksfernsehen" the two presenters made fun of the coronation ceremony of the Thai king and the Thai royal couple. Many Thais have seen the post in a video clip on the internet and were very upset about it. The broadcaster SAT.1 has published an apology in German and in English on its Facebook page.
In the broadcast, the two presenters were amused that the current Queen was lying on the floor at her wedding before His Majesty the King. As previously reported, King Maha Vajiralongkorn had married his longtime companion Suthida, a former stewardess and bodyguard, shortly before his own coronation.
The well-known in Thailand "Bangkok Post" showed two photos on the front page. One shows the queen in front of her husband on the ground, how she can anoint her forehead. The Sat.1 presenter duo recreated the scene in "Sat.1 Breakfast TV" and enjoyed themselves. In Thailand, a video clip of the program had made its rounds on the Internet provoking numerous indignant comments from Thai and foreign users. Sat.1 has now officially apologized for the post.
On its Facebook page, SAT.1 wrote: "Many viewers believe that the way the show discussed the topic was inappropriate and offensive. The editors did not want to offend the Thai culture in any way. Should this still happen, we apologize formally ", was only a day later read on Facebook.
Here is the written apology from Sat.1, which was published in German and in English on their Facebook page.
The "SAT.1 Frühstücksfernsehen" on Friday, the ceremony of the Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn thematized. The way was seen by many spectators as inappropriate and offensive. At no time was the editorial intention to offend the culture of Thailand. If that happens, we apologize in all due form.
The Thai Embassy in Berlin also sent a protest letter to the program and its two presenters. The embassy asked her in her protest letter to apologize for her actions.
The message said observing the traditions of other countries "should be marked by respect and tolerance in today's world. Thailand resists such slander of its precious traditions. "
The German Ambassador in Thailand, Mr. Georg Schmidt, had also commented on the post on SAT.1 Breakfast TV on Wednesday morning: "Many of you have asked me for my opinion on the broadcast of this morning on German private television. I found the program offensive. "
According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Berlin on the Facebook page, she asked German television to investigate the broadcast of the news program about the royal wedding of his Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Suthida, which took place on May 1. The message said that the Thai ritual of holding a person down in front of someone on the ground is a sign of respect in Thailand in its highest form.
This tradition is widespread in Thailand and is consciously practiced by the Thai people as an expression of respect for their parents and ancestors.
The message said that it is very important for the Thai people to continue this valuable tradition and show it to the world with pride.
"An official complaint was and is not available to us," said the station on Wednesday in Unterföhring near Munich on request. The editors have officially apologized immediately.
"We had an exchange with the Foreign Office, which welcomed the apology and passed it on to the relevant government representatives - the Thai ambassador in Berlin and the German ambassador in Thailand".
Mr Georg Schmidt, the German ambassador to Thailand, tweeted to the scene from the breakfast television that he had found them "offensive to many people in Thailand and Germany".
Sources: Bangkok Post, Deutsche Presse
