Thailand in uproar over 'offensive' Saturday Night Live skit mocking sex industry

Thailand has voiced its anger after US comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live aired a skit mocking the Asian country's booming sex industry.

A still taken from the Saturday Night Live skit  

8:39AM GMT 05 Feb 2013

The skit is a parody of an advertisement for a Thai-language course by the Rosetta Stone language learning company. It shows men surreptitiously learning phrases for use in Thailand's notorious night-life, such as: "Take your clothes off".

Unamused Thai culture minister Sonthaya Kunploem said his government was trying to block the clip from the internet.

"The sketch misrepresents Thailand and its people," Mr Sonthaya told Reuters news agency. "We're working with the Foreign Ministry to let the US know it is offensive and we have asked our information ministry to remove the clip."

Predominantly Buddhist Thailand is deeply conservative despite its vibrant sex industry, and its censors often target nudity on television and in print. Prostitution is illegal though widespread.

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