KUALA LUMPUR – A video showing the Thai AirAsia chief being rude to a woman during an online town hall has made the rounds online.
In the 1-minute, 55-second video, CEO Tassapon Bijleveld is heard disrespecting the female speaker in a live meeting said to be attended by some 500 people.
Tassapon was heard interjecting the female speaker many times.
At one point, he was heard saying “What’s your f***ing question, come on” when asking the woman to get straight to her query.
He also told her to “shut up” when she spoke in Thai.
A recording of the conversation was posted to the Reddit online forum, eliciting comments like: “I feels so shocked, horrified, and enraged to see this video of my friend being grossly disrespected by the CEO of AirAsia Thailand in a live company town hall attended by over 500.”
The clip also showed Aireen Omar, president of airasia Digital, present at the meeting.
The Vibes has reached out to the airline’s corporate communications unit for comment.
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) July 26, 2021
A Rakyat Post report today said Tassapon issued a video apology two weeks after the town hall.
Thiladee Pantumchinda, who is head of the People Department at Thai AirAsia Public Company Ltd, said the firm will ensure such incidents do not recur.
“We sincerely apologise for everyone affected by the incident,” she said in internal correspondence with staff.
Aireen and the other women present maintained their composure, smiling despite the expletive uttered.
“My friend was answering a question when she was interjected by Tassapon multiple times in a way that was so undignified and unprofessional, and to the smiling faces of the rest of the AirAsia leadership.
“I feel sick and disgusted, and also surprised, to see how corporate male egotism and patriarchy in a company like AirAsia is being tolerated,” read a caption in the video.
The clip of Tassapon using profanity against the woman has sparked uproar among netizens.
Twitter user @robertheslop_91 said the airline boss should be ashamed, and did not demonstrate leadership.
“It’s a man being rude thinking he’s superior to a woman.”
@airasia You should be ashamed. This isn't leadership, it's a man being rude thinking he's superior to a woman.#FireTassapon#BoycottAirAsia https://t.co/mtDZQnjLYv
— Robert ?? (@robertheslop_91) July 26, 2021
Another user expressed disbelief that no one present during the town hall piped up.
“This is rude. I’m surprised no one took rapid response when it came to unacceptable behaviour especially in public.” – The Vibes, July 26, 2021
