On November 5, BDLMD Entertainment announced its first GL (girl love) series, featuring prominent young stars from Thailand’s entertainment scene. According to the company’s statement, the drama will feature two main pairings: MINDY’s MingMing with Ranida “Preem” Techasit, and BNK48’s Punn with MINDY’s Ilene.
While the growing GL genre has been widely celebrated for its inclusivity and positive representation of same-sex relationships, the casting announcement was met with sharp criticism after fans discovered the age differences between the leads.
Punn, who turns 25 this week, was paired with Ilene, who is only 16 years old, creating a nearly ten-year age gap between an adult and a minor. The other pairing also features a ten-year age difference MingMing at 19 and Preem at 29 further fueling discomfort among audiences.
The controversy quickly spread across social media platforms, with international viewers and Thai netizens condemning what they saw as irresponsible casting and inappropriate romantic implications. Many criticized the company for potentially romanticizing a relationship between an adult and an underage actress.
In response, BDLMD Entertainment issued a clarification, stating that the storyline between Ilene and Punn does not depict a romantic relationship, but rather a sisterly bond within an original narrative. The company emphasized that the pairing was misunderstood and that the drama’s context was unrelated to romance.
However, fans remained skeptical. Observers pointed out that the company’s initial promotional post included the hashtag #PUNNILENE, a name combination typically used to signify a couple pairing in Thai entertainment promotions. Moreover, many linked the announcement to an anticipated series titled Le Lom Huan, which reportedly explores a romantic storyline between two adoptive sisters a premise strikingly similar to the newly announced project.
This overlap has only deepened doubts about the company’s explanation. Critics argue that even if the characters’ relationship is platonic, casting a minor in a context that hints at romance with an adult remains ethically questionable.
As of now, BDLMD Entertainment has not provided further clarification or adjusted its promotional materials. International advocacy groups and online communities continue to call for greater accountability and ethical standards in media production involving underage performers.
Whether the drama will undergo revisions or retain its current concept remains to be seen, but the controversy has already cast a shadow over the company’s debut into the GL genre.
Sources: Koreaboo