Thai Author Benz Thanachat Clarifies Role in Harassment Group

Bestselling author and creative director Benz Thanachat Siripatrachai has addressed his membership in a Facebook group called "Open Warp" after it became the center of a sexual harassment scandal in Thailand's literary community. The group, which he joined years ago, was recently found to be sharing photos of female writers with sexually harassing commentary. Several prominent male writers were discovered to be members. Benz, co-founder of Salmon House publishing, explained he had forgotten about the group and was unaware of its toxic turn until colleagues alerted him. He apologized for his negligence, confirmed he left the group immediately upon reviewing its content, and denied ever participating in or condoning harassment.

In a lengthy Facebook post written from a personal perspective rather than as a crisis-management statement, Benz said a junior colleague first brought the issue to his attention the previous evening. He initially dismissed it because the group name was unfamiliar and he hadn't seen it on his feed — much like many groups he had joined in the past and forgotten. He admitted this was a mistake and a lack of diligence. The next day, his phone flooded with concerned calls and messages from friends. When he finally examined the group and read the comments, he realized how far it had degenerated. He understood why people were angry and uncomfortable, stated he disagreed with the comments, and left the group.

Benz acknowledged that in sensitive situations like this, a defensive line such as "people who know me know I'm not that person" sounds self-serving and evasive. He instead emphasized the facts: he has never behaved that way online or offline, never harassed anyone, and does not support sexual harassment in any form. He accepted that strangers who have already judged him may not be swayed by his explanation and may view it as self-preservation or deflection. Still, he wanted to share his side — at minimum, the part he knows best: what he did and did not do.

He recognized the news cycle would move on in a few days, that people would find new topics, and life would continue. Some may remember him only as "the guy in glasses who had that controversy back then," but the truth of who he is remains what he has stated. Even years from now, if asked, he would give the same account. He apologized for the delayed, unpolished response — noting crisis-management experts would likely cringe — but said he wanted to communicate as honestly as possible, as one human being to another, still believing we can recognize each other's humanity even on difficult days.