The Thai drama Mae Yua recently sparked controversy online after Episode 5 featured a scene where a cat appears sedated. Viewers questioned the use of anesthesia on the animal, leading to the hashtag #BanMaeYua trending as Twitter’s top topic in Thailand. Channel ONE 31 responded, acknowledging viewer concerns and confirming that the cat was provided and supervised by a specialized animal modeling agency with over a decade of experience.
However, further questions arose regarding the actors' involvement in the filming process. Production company Exact Scenario issued a statement clarifying that the actors were not involved in or informed about the details of the cat’s sedation. They were only assured that the animal was under professional supervision. The statement also expressed regret for any distress caused and pledged to prevent similar issues in the future.