New year, new beginnings? Singapore actor-host Pornsak Prajakwit revealed via a surprise announcement on Instagram on Jan 2 that he has left live-streaming company Mdada, the company he co-founded with fellow media personalities, celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee and former Mediacorp actress Michelle Chia.
Mdada was launched by the trio in September 2020, and quickly established itself as a popular e-commerce multi-channel live-streaming company.
“I have left Mdada. In the past two-and-half years, I got to know so many new supporters through my Japan, Korea, and US trips. It has been so fruitful and I count my lucky stars for my good fortune. Come 2023, I have lofty dreams and ambitions,” Pornsak, as he’s popularly known, wrote on Instagram.
“I want to be the ideal live-streamer – one with a personal touch, one whom everybody can entrust his/her purchases, and one who is there to entertain as well,” he added.
According to website AsiaOne, 40-year-old Pornsak decided to leave after realising the differences between himself and his two co-founders Chia and Lee’s points of view, “especially when it came to corporate governance”.
“I think the timing is just right for me. I’ve been around for about two-and-a-half years and during this period of time, I’ve worked with two very brilliant individuals — namely Addy and Michelle,” he said. “There are a lot of things that we have in common, but we also have differences. But considering the generation gap, I don’t think it came as a surprise.”
Lee is 51 years old while Chia is 47 years old.
Pornsak, who is also a licensed TCM doctor, said the “eureka moment” came in November when he was livestreaming in South Korea. “It was when I realised that our points of view on a lot of things are very different”.
But it seems like there’s no bad blood among the former business partners. When asked if the trio were still friends, he said: “I would assume that.”
Looking forward, Pornsak will be striking out on his own with plans to continue live-streaming and hosting daily 9pm sessions on both Facebook and Instagram, covering topics such as food, travel and health.
He said he plans to cultivate “longevity and sustainability” as a live-streamer. “I think I have to really spend time to achieve that.”
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