Thai actor and stylist Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool has broken his silence regarding a severe financial dispute involving a prominent brand event. Taking to his official profile on X, the former Idol Factory artist detailed a complete breakdown of transparency, missing funds, and unfulfilled contract obligations. The public statement highlights growing concerns regarding professional respect and financial integrity within the entertainment industry.
The Event Management Deception and Personal Production Expenses
The issue stems from a commercial brand event where Babe Tanatat participated as a booked artist. Throughout the entire operational process, his former artist manager explicitly assured him that the corporate client had fully paid the booking fees to his agency. Relying on this professional reassurance, Babe proceeded with the scheduled performance.
However, unexpected logistical demands complicated the situation during the actual event execution. The manager asked Babe to assume additional production responsibilities completely outside his original contract scope. Specifically, these extra duties included managing the wardrobe, makeup, hair, and the specialized artist relations (AR) teams. To ensure the absolute best possible outcome for the project, Babe and his immediate staff accepted these responsibilities. Furthermore, they advanced all associated production costs entirely out of their own pockets.
The professional collaboration turned highly controversial after the completion of the work. A senior industry source informed Babe that 50% of the client’s total payment never actually reached his agency. Instead, the missing portion of the funds had allegedly been transferred directly to specific individual artists. Despite fulfilling his standard roles and funding the extra staff out of his own pocket, Babe has not received a single baht for his labor to this day.
Idol Factory Issues Official Clarification Letter Regarding Missing Funds
Seeking concrete answers, Babe reached out to the various corporate entities involved in the transaction. While multiple parties initially chose to remain completely silent, his former management agency officially responded in writing. Babe shared an official letter issued by Idol Factory, the entertainment company he was formally signed under until his contract concluded on January 31, 2026.
The official document, dated May 15, 2026, and signed directly by CEO Kashentr Sodphoe, provides a detailed timeline of the financial transaction:
- January 23, 2026: Idol Factory officially issued the initial project invoice to the corporate client. Specifically, the agency structured the payment into two distinct installments.
- First Installment: The client successfully transferred the first payment installment directly to the agency’s accounts.
- March 25, 2026: Idol Factory management actively followed up regarding the delayed second installment.
- March 31, 2026: The client responded to the inquiry. They claimed that they wired the second half of the payment directly to two specific artists. The client alleged they did this because they heard the artists had not yet received their earnings from the agency.
Idol Factory’s executive board stated that the agency did not authorize or participate in this highly unusual direct transfer. The company initially chose not to contest the client’s actions because the agency held outstanding balances with multiple actors at that time. They assumed in good faith that the funds would be distributed fairly among all working parties. However, the agency later discovered that Babe never received his rightful compensation.
วันนี้เบ้บขออนุญาตออกมาพูด
— BABE 🐽 (@babe_in_) June 7, 2026
เพื่อเรียกร้องความเป็นธรรมให้กับตัวเอง
และเพื่อปกป้องสิทธิ์ในการทำงานอย่างสุจริต
เบ้บได้รับงาน Event หนึ่ง โดยตลอดกระบวนการ
ได้รับข้อมูลจากผู้ดูแลศิลปิน (อดีต) ว่า
ลูกค้าได้ชำระค่าจ้างให้กับบริษัทต้นสังกัดครบถ้วนเรียบร้อยแล้ว
ในระหว่างการทำงาน… pic.twitter.com/4DVEdhjME0
Babe Tanatat Demands Institutional Transparency and Systemic Reform
In his public address, Babe emphasized that his motivation for speaking out extends far beyond simple financial gain. Specifically, the dispute centers on the core values of honesty, institutional transparency, and professional respect for working actors. Having had no involvement in the hidden alterations to the payment process, the independent creator continues to wait for official clarification and his lawful remuneration.
The independent artist brings a well-rounded academic and professional background to his current entertainment career. A graduate of Bangkok University’s Faculty of Communication Arts with a major in journalism, Babe previously performed under the surname Tanatat Ingphochai before transitioning to his independent label, Bout Babe Entertainment. He also maintains a strong connection with his audience. Specifically, he openly identified as gay during a candid TikTok live broadcast earlier this year on January 6, 2026.
To date, the unnamed corporate client and the independent manager have not published any additional public defenses. Therefore, supporters are actively utilizing social media tags to demand stricter regulatory protections. They hope to protect independent Thai performers facing similar structural exploitation.
