Thread: Foodpanda faces backlash over its response to employee act at protest

Food delivery application “Foodpanda” apologized for its online statement last night, July 18th, as it was facing an online boycott after addressing its food delivery employee who was caught in a video appearing to be setting fire to a portrait of His Royal Majesty the King, calling it committing an act of violence and terrorism.


The boycott from both customers and restaurant owners has caused, according to local media, a loss of numerous activated accounts of the application overnight.


This began when a Twitter account had posted a video capturing a protester standing in front of a burning portrait of the King at the pro-democracy demonstration in Bangkok yesterday, July 18th, before walking towards a motorcycle with an attached Foodpanda parcel at the back.

Foodpanda’s official Twitter account then made a statement stating that the company has a policy against violence and all forms of terrorism. The employee spotted in the video clip would be prosecuted under company policy and would be fired immediately.


The statement had prompted a wave of social media backlash from pro-democracy activists last night, with a trending online hashtag #banfoodpanda (#แบนfoodpanda). Many of them started deactivating their accounts and deleting the Food Panda application on their mobile devices, posting videos online. Some restaurant owners had also withdrawn the business partnership with the application.


Amid the social rage, the company later issued an apology online on Monday for its earlier statement, saying that the company respected freedom of expression and expression was not terrorism. The rider would not be dismissed due to the incident. Based on social media reaction this evening, however, many have not accepted their apology and stated they plan to continue to personally blacklist the company for calling what protesters stated was an act of expression, an act of terrorism and violence.

Foodpanda has, as of this afternoon, stated they had not identified the rider in the video.

Foodpanda apologizes after facing online backlash regarding its response to an employee's act at yesterday's protest as terrorism - The Pattaya News

Foodpanda delivery man arrested on lese majeste charges last night after allegedly burning portrait of His Royal Majesty the King at Sunday protest

A Foodpanda delivery man who had attended a pro-democracy protest on Saturday was captured by a group of undercover police late last night yesterday, July 19th, over a lese majeste charge, or Section 112, after being seen in a video appearing to be setting fire to a portrait of His Royal Majesty the King during the protest.


The video in question became viral since Sunday as the food delivery company had responded to its employee’s action as ‘terrorism’ and said that he would be fired immediately, sparking anger from pro-democracy activists and a widespread Twitter campaign to “ban” Foodpanda. The company later apologized for the statement, saying the rider would not be dismissed due to the incident, stating that their employees had the right to express their opinions and it was not terrorism.

However, as of 9:50 PM, the 25-year-old rider, who was identified as Sittichok, was reportedly arrested at his home in the Rangsit area, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).


This took place following an arrest warrant issued by the Bangkok Criminal Court. Sittichok was initially taken to Pratunam Police Station for daily reports before being transferred to Nang Loeng Police Station, where the alleged crime took place, this morning.


According to the warrant, the rider was charged with Thailand’s harshest law of Section 112 of the Criminal Code for insulting, defaming, and/or threatening the King, the Queen, or the members of the royal family, as well as violating the Emergency Decree that prohibits gatherings or activities that are at risk of spreading the disease. He also faces charges for the destruction of public property.

Foodpanda delivery man arrested on lese majeste charges last night after allegedly burning portrait of His Royal Majesty the King at Sunday protest - The Pattaya News

^ I read that the company lost a lot of customers and restaurants accounts, to the point they removed the possibility to cancel/delete accounts for both categories.

This will end up in a simple "misunderstanding" from a local employee that, of course, doesn't reflect the company's position on the issue.

Yeah, they already apologised.

Hopefully the apology wont be accepted.