Thai actor Jespipat 'Jes' Tilapornputt deleted photographs of his Michael Jackson-inspired Halloween costume and apologised on 30 October 2026 after social media users criticised his use of makeup to darken his skin.
The actor recreated Jackson's appearance in the 1983 music video for 'Thriller,' wearing a red leather jacket, matching trousers, and a wavy hairstyle. He shared the costume on Instagram, @jesjpp, before deleting the post amid criticism that the skin-darkening makeup was racially insensitive.
Jes published an apology on X on 30 October. He said neither he nor his team had intended to mock or insult anyone, but acknowledged that viewers could interpret the costume as mockery or discrimination. He accepted responsibility for allowing the material to be filmed and shared without examining the concept carefully enough.
ผมและทางทีมไม่ได้มีเจตนาในการล้อเลียนหรือดูถูกฝ่ายใดเลยครับ
— Jesjpp (@jesjpp) October 30, 2026
ส่วนตัวขอโทษที่ไม่ได้สอบถามและ recheck ชิ้นงานก่อนจะถ่ายหรือลงไปจริงๆ เหตุเกิดจากที่ทางทีมได้จัดเตรียม content ไว้ให้ และผมได้รับรู้ในวันถ่าย และถ่ายในช่วงนี้ที่มีเวลาจำกัดมากๆ
ด้วยความเร่งรีบและความเหนื่อย… https://t.co/gZSy8CGT1V
The Halloween Photographs
The costume drew on Jackson's appearance in the 'Thriller' music video, which features the singer in a red outfit during a horror-themed sequence with zombies and choreographed dancing. Jes's version included makeup that visibly darkened his face and body. Social media users questioned why a tribute to Jackson required changing skin colour instead of relying on the costume, hairstyle, and other recognisable features of the video.
Some social media users described the skin-darkening makeup as blackface, arguing that it was racially insensitive. Others defended the actor and described the costume as an attempt to honour Jackson, and that the blackface was unintentional on his part.
The controversy emerged on 30 October, as Halloween approached on 31 October. Thai entertainment outlets reported the removal of the Instagram post and published statements from Jes and the stylist who devised the look.
Jes Accepts Responsibility
In his apology, Jes said the creative team had prepared the content in advance and that he became aware of it on the day of filming. He said the tight schedule, fatigue, and haste contributed to his failure to consider how the costume might affect viewers.
He said responsibility remained with him because the material was created and shared through his account. He described the incident as a lesson in reviewing proposed creative work more carefully before filming or publishing it.
His apology distinguished the team's stated intentions from the way viewers received the costume. Jes acknowledged the objections to the makeup and apologised for the offence caused.
Jes said he had sought to recreate Jackson's music-video appearance, not to turn another racial identity into a joke. He acknowledged that the styling had not been scrutinised carefully enough before publication.
Stylist Also Apologises
The stylist behind the concept, who goes by the name Artery, also issued a separate apology, accepting responsibility for developing the idea and overseeing its production. Artery said the concept was inspired by Jackson's 'Thriller' music video and acknowledged that using skin-darkening makeup to portray a Black person was inappropriate.
Artery said the team should have considered the implications of using skin colour as part of the costume. Jes separately accepted responsibility for his participation and for posting the material.
Jackson's 'Thriller' outfit remains a familiar Halloween reference because of its red jacket, horror imagery and choreography. The objections to Jes's recreation focused on the decision to darken his skin, rather than the choice to dress as Jackson.
