Thriller turns toxic! Thai TV star Jes Jespipat faces a global blackface storm over his Michael Jackson Halloween costume. He deletes the photos and apologises as his stylist admits to darkening his skin. Thai fans fight back against the outrage online.
A Halloween tribute to Michael Jackson has plunged Thai television star Jes Jespipat Tilapornput into an international racism storm. Dressed in the singer’s iconic red Thriller costume, the actor darkened his face and body, triggering furious blackface accusations. He swiftly deleted the photographs and apologised, blaming a rushed photoshoot and poor judgement. Meanwhile, stylist Artery admitted deliberately using dark makeup and accepted responsibility. However, Thai fans hit back at American critics, while a Michael Jackson fan publication defended the tribute and questioned double standards. The row has divided audiences worldwide, turning a Halloween celebration into an international controversy.
Thai television star Jes Jespipat Tilapornput has been caught in an international racism storm over a Halloween tribute to Michael Jackson. The actor recreated the singer’s legendary 1983 Thriller appearance, complete with red leather clothing and darkened skin.
However, overseas critics accused him of blackface, unleashing a fierce social media backlash. Jes deleted the photographs and issued a public apology. His stylist then admitted deliberately darkening the actor’s skin and accepted responsibility for the production.
Meanwhile, Thai supporters defended the star, while a specialist Michael Jackson publication challenged the racism accusations.
Thai television star’s Michael Jackson Halloween costume sparks blackface accusations and backlash
The controversy broke on Friday, October 30, as Thai celebrities prepared for Halloween. Jes, also known as Jespipat Tilapornputt, joined the festivities with an elaborate tribute to the American music legend.
He published a collection of photographs on Instagram under his account, @jesjpp. The pictures recreated Jackson’s distinctive appearance in the celebrated Thriller music video. However, the reaction quickly turned hostile among international social media users.
The actor wore a bright red leather jacket and matching trousers. His hair was styled into waves resembling Jackson’s appearance during the early 1980s. Yet the production went considerably further than clothing and hairstyle.
Makeup substantially darkened Jes’s face and body to reproduce the American singer’s complexion. That decision ignited the controversy, with overseas critics accusing the Thai actor of racism and blackface.
The backlash rapidly spread beyond Thailand. Consequently, Jes removed the photographs from his Instagram account as criticism intensified. Nevertheless, copies continued circulating through entertainment publications and social media.
Thai newspapers report the growing row over the Thriller tribute and the actor’s musical background
The dispute soon attracted coverage from major Thai news organisations. Khaosod English reported the affair on Friday afternoon. Separately, popular tabloids Thairath and Daily News covered the controversy and the increasingly divided public reaction.
The Halloween stunt had been intended as a tribute to one of popular music’s biggest stars. Instead, it left the Thai actor facing international accusations of racial insensitivity. Jes is an established Thai television performer with a strong interest in music.
He plays several instruments, including guitar, piano and drums. Furthermore, he has previously shared videos of himself singing and playing instruments on YouTube.
The inspiration was Michael Jackson’s celebrated Thriller video, released in December 1983. The production remains one of the most recognisable music videos ever made. Directed by John Landis, the short film combined horror cinema, elaborate choreography and Jackson’s music. Its storyline follows the singer and his girlfriend during an increasingly frightening evening. Jackson eventually transforms into a zombie and joins a group of dancers.
The resulting dance sequence became one of the defining images of Jackson’s career. Equally, the singer’s distinctive red leather costume became an enduring part of popular culture.
Halloween impersonators have reproduced the outfit for more than four decades. Jes recreated that familiar appearance in his photographs. However, the deliberate alteration of his skin colour became the focus of international criticism.
International critics condemn darkened skin as blackface despite Jackson’s changing appearance
Critics argued that Jackson’s famous clothing and hairstyle were sufficient to identify the singer. They questioned why the Thai production team had also darkened the actor’s complexion. Some international commenters described the photographs as racist and unimaginative. Others challenged the creative team’s failure to anticipate the reaction. The accusations centred on blackface, a practice with a controversial history in American entertainment.
Historically, blackface involved non-Black performers darkening their skin to portray Black people. It became associated with theatrical performances that caricatured African Americans.
The practice has particularly offensive historical associations in the United States. As a result, modern productions involving similar makeup can attract accusations of racial insensitivity. In this case, the subject was Michael Jackson, an African-American performer whose appearance changed considerably during his career.
Jackson had vitiligo, a medical condition that causes the loss of skin pigmentation. His changing complexion became a prominent subject of public discussion during his lifetime. By contrast, Thriller depicted Jackson during an earlier period, when his complexion was darker. Jes and his production team sought to recreate that particular appearance. International critics nevertheless maintained that copying the singer’s skin colour was unnecessary.
Thai fans reject American criticism as Jes explains the rushed Halloween production and apologises
The response was far from unanimous. Indeed, Thai supporters quickly challenged the accusations and defended the actor’s Halloween presentation. Some argued that Jes had simply dressed as an internationally famous entertainer.
They rejected suggestions that the production was intended to insult Black people. Others questioned whether American attitudes towards racial representation should determine Halloween performances in Thailand.
Thairath reported one response declaring: “Not everything revolves around people of colour in America.” The comment reflected the increasingly sharp disagreement surrounding the photographs.
International critics focused on blackface, while Thai defenders emphasised the tribute’s intended purpose. In parallel, the controversy continued spreading through social media. The original photographs had already been deleted, but the dispute had moved well beyond Jes’s Instagram account.
As criticism mounted, the actor issued a public apology through X, formerly Twitter. His statement explained how the production had been organised and why he had approved it. Jes said the creative team had prepared the Halloween material before he became directly involved. According to the actor, he only learned the details on the day of filming. Notably, he explained that the photoshoot had taken place under considerable time pressure.
Jes accepts responsibility for the controversial photographs as stylist Artery admits using dark makeup
He also cited fatigue and the rushed production schedule as factors affecting his judgement. Even so, Jes accepted that these circumstances did not excuse his failure to review the material properly. He insisted that neither he nor his colleagues had intended to mock or insult anyone. The production, he maintained, had not been designed to ridicule Jackson or Black people.
Despite that explanation, the actor acknowledged failing to consider how the photographs and accompanying video might affect viewers. He also accepted that the material could be interpreted as discriminatory, regardless of the team’s intentions.
Crucially, Jes took personal responsibility for approving the production and publishing the photographs through his social media accounts. He apologised for the distress caused and described the incident as a serious professional lesson.
Looking ahead, Jes promised greater care when reviewing future creative projects. He said published material would receive closer scrutiny before being released. His statement established that he had approved the presentation despite learning about the concept shortly before filming. Yet responsibility for developing the controversial appearance did not rest solely with the actor.
Attention subsequently turned towards the stylist who had organised the creative concept. Known professionally as Artery, the stylist issued a separate public apology. Artery confirmed responsibility for developing the Halloween presentation and supervising its execution. Significantly, the stylist acknowledged that the team had deliberately used skin-darkening makeup to reproduce Jackson’s appearance.
Stylist confirms deliberate skin-darkening in Thriller costume and promises changes after backlash
That admission settled one central question surrounding the photographs. The altered complexion was an intentional creative decision, not an accidental consequence of lighting or photographic editing.
Artery explained that the production had been designed to honour the American singer. The team had attempted to reproduce his appearance as closely as possible. Nonetheless, the stylist recognised that incorporating skin colour into a costume could be considered inappropriate.
The apology acknowledged insufficient consideration of the cultural implications surrounding the production. In response, Artery promised to reassess the team’s creative procedures. Particular attention would be given to future projects involving sensitive cultural and social subjects.
The two apologies established the separate responsibilities of those involved. Jes accepted responsibility for participating in the photoshoot, approving the material and publishing the photographs.
Artery, on the other hand, accepted responsibility for developing the concept and overseeing the production. Both maintained that the intention had been to celebrate Michael Jackson rather than insult anyone. Their explanations did not end the disagreement. The controversy continued attracting competing responses from Thai supporters and international critics. It also drew attention from specialist publications devoted to Jackson’s career.
Michael Jackson fan publication MJVibe defends Thai actor and questions inconsistent racism claims
MJVibe, a Michael Jackson fan publication, defended Jes in an article published on October 29. The publication questioned why his Halloween costume had attracted accusations of racism when Jackson impersonations were common internationally.
It pointed to performers from different ethnic backgrounds who regularly recreate the singer’s appearance. According to MJVibe, impersonators frequently use makeup to reproduce Jackson’s complexion and distinctive facial features.
The publication questioned whether Jes was being judged according to standards applied inconsistently to other performers. Moreover, it argued that his apparent intention was to celebrate Jackson’s musical legacy rather than mock Black people.
That intervention added another dimension to the controversy. The criticism was no longer being challenged solely by Thai supporters of the actor. However, MJVibe’s defence represented its own editorial position, not a unanimous response from Jackson’s international fan community.
The publication’s intervention demonstrated that the accusations had generated disagreement beyond Thailand. Within hours, the row had developed from a celebrity Halloween photoshoot into an international entertainment controversy.
At its centre were two distinct elements of the production. One was the recreation of Jackson’s celebrated costume, hairstyle and Thriller appearance. The other was the deliberate use of makeup to darken the Thai actor’s face and body.
Apologies confirm intentional makeup decision as Halloween tribute attracts international scrutiny
Critics condemned the latter decision. Conversely, defenders maintained that the complete appearance was intended as a tribute to the singer. The separate apologies confirmed that skin-darkening had been incorporated into the original creative concept.
They also established that Jes had not developed the presentation himself. Nevertheless, he acknowledged responsibility for approving and publishing the finished photographs.
Artery admitted overseeing the production and selecting the controversial makeup treatment. The incident unfolded against a backdrop of Halloween celebrations involving Thai celebrities and international entertainment characters.
With October 31 approaching, performers had been publishing photographs inspired by horror films, television programmes and famous personalities. Jes joined that activity with one of popular music’s most recognisable characters.
His production, however, attracted a very different response from the intended Halloween celebration. The backlash also placed the actor’s social media activity under international scrutiny. His Instagram photographs had been intended for public viewing. Instead, their removal became one of the central developments in the unfolding affair. Copies remained available through news reports and social media discussions.
Deleted Instagram photographs continue circulating as Thai and international reactions remain divided
Accordingly, deleting the original posts did not prevent further coverage. By Friday afternoon, Khaosod English had reported the apology and accusations. Other Thai entertainment outlets also carried details of the controversy. At the same time, international criticism continued to be challenged by supporters who rejected the blackface accusations.
The opposing reactions focused on the same photographs but reached sharply different conclusions about their meaning. For critics, darkening skin was the decisive feature. For defenders, the photographs reproduced the appearance of a particular entertainer in a famous music video. The involvement of a specialist Jackson publication further widened the dispute.
MJVibe questioned the consistency of the criticism, while Jes and Artery acknowledged shortcomings in their production decisions. Neither apology disputed that the actor’s complexion had been deliberately altered.
Instead, both statements emphasised the original intention and accepted responsibility for the resulting controversy. By Friday evening, the photographs had been withdrawn and both principal figures had apologised.
Actor and stylist explain rushed photoshoot and deliberate makeup as Halloween racism row continues
The affair also exposed details of the production process, including its preparation before Jes became involved. The actor’s account described a rushed filming schedule and limited opportunity to examine the concept.
Artery’s statement, meanwhile, confirmed the deliberate use of makeup to recreate Jackson’s darker complexion. Together, the statements explained how the Halloween photographs were produced and approved.
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For Jes, the immediate consequences included public criticism, deletion of the photographs and an apology issued through X. His stylist also publicly accepted responsibility and promised changes to future creative work. Thai supporters continued defending the actor’s intention, while international critics maintained their objections to the makeup.
The affair unfolded just one day before Halloween, with the controversy reaching audiences far beyond Thailand. What began as a tribute to Michael Jackson’s legendary Thriller performance had become an international racism row. At its centre stood a prominent Thai television star, his stylist and a deliberately darkened Halloween costume.
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