Milli: Thailand’s dissident rapper serves a bittersweet message for government

Thai teen rapper Danupha “Milli” Khanatheerakul, who made global headlines by eating mango sticky rice on a US stage recently, is pursuing not just a music career but also ambitions to make Thailand a better place.

And this young woman will not stop fighting for her beliefs, even after being slapped with a defamation complaint by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last year.

“No, I don’t hate my homeland,” the 19-year-old once said. “I speak up because I love it. I don’t want to see others looking down on my country.”

Targeting Thai corruption

On April 17, Milli became the first solo artist from Thailand to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This international indie music and arts extravaganza has been held in California every year since 1999, except for a two-year break during the COVID-19 crisis.

On stage, the young Thai artist…