In a year when the global entertainment industry saw more scandals than it should, it looks like 2021 will end with regret and irony.
On Dec 27, Myanmar actor-model Paing Takhon — who has been detained in prison since April this year — was sentenced to three years in jail with hard labour for supporting pro-democracy protests in the country.
One day later on Dec 28, TC Candler released a video on YouTube that named the 25-year-old the world’s most handsome face of 2021.
The clip, which also featured 99 other male celebrities, captioned the text “Free this man” in Paing Takhon’s segment.
Other Asian celebrities in the top 100 include BTS‘ V and Jungkook (at third and fifth place respectively), Chinese actor Xiao Zhan (11th), Stray Kids’ Hyunjin (12th), BTS’ Jimin (14th) and Enhypen’s Ni-Ki (18th).
Blackpink’s Lisa, who’s Thai, took home the honour of being named the most beautiful face of 2021. The top 10 list is dominated by Asian celebrities, with Filipino actress Ivana Alawi coming in at fourth, Momoland’s Nancy at fifth, Twice’s Tzuyu at seventh, Indonesian singer Lyodra Ginting at 8th and After School’s Nana at 10th.
(Here are “8 New Asian Faces And Models To Hit That Follow Button On Instagram“)
Showbiz career cut short
While Paing Takhon was already well-loved in his home country and Thailand, he shot to greater fame in January when photos of him with a shaved head and monk robes went viral on social media.
He wrote on his Instagram account then: “Spent my New Year 2021 by being a monk for 10 days and I felt so peaceful and knew myself more.”
His showbiz career was ended when the Myanmar military overthrew the country’s government on February 1. He participated in the protests and spoke out against the coup. He also rallied support via social media.
Soon after the coup was over, the junta published a list listing around 120 celebrities that were being held for questioning.
He was taken into custody by the military two years later. His sister told Reuters then that the forces came with eight military trucks and about 50 soldiers at 4.30am at their parents’ home in Yangon, where he had been staying for several days while unwell.
On Monday, his legal advisor Khin Maung Myint told AFP that his family is deeply saddened about his sentence and is considering whether to appeal.
This article was published for the first time in AsiaOne.
Source: Her World
