World-Record Holding Couple Who Kissed for 58 Hours Announce Separation

A Thai couple who set a Guinness World Record for the longest kiss—lasting an astonishing 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds—have announced they are no longer together.

Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, who broke the record in February 2013, confirmed the end of their marriage during a recent episode of the BBC Sounds podcast Witness History. Despite their separation, Ekkachai said he remains proud of their achievement.

“I am very proud. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. “We spent a long time together, and I’m trying to remember the good memories that we had together.”

A Record-Breaking Journey

The couple first made headlines in 2011 when they kissed for 46 hours and 24 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 32 hours and 7 minutes. Ekkachai revealed that they almost didn’t participate in the contest that year because Laksana had just recovered from an illness. However, the promise of 50,000 Thai Baht (about £1,200 at the time) and a diamond ring convinced them to compete.

The competition, held just before Valentine’s Day, was intense. “There were a lot of people there—14 couples competing and media everywhere,” Ekkachai recalled. “I felt like I was going to faint. Some spectators even handed me an inhaler to help me keep going.”

The strict rules of the competition made it even more challenging. Participants had to keep their lips touching at all times, remain awake throughout, and stand without support. Even toilet breaks required couples to remain kissing.

“Many people collapsed because they couldn’t handle it,” Ekkachai said. “After 20 hours, I was exhausted, but my wife said, ‘We need to keep fighting,’ so I kept going.”

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Fighting to Reclaim Their Title

Their record was broken in 2012 by two Thai men, Nonthawat Charoenkaesornsin and Thanakorn Sitthiamthong, who kissed for 50 hours and 25 minutes. Determined to reclaim their title, Ekkachai and Laksana entered the 2013 contest with even greater determination.

They trained hard and strategized carefully, learning from their past mistakes. “We tried to stand straight like statues. Instead of pinching each other to stay awake, we tapped each other on the head while hugging,” Ekkachai explained.

In the final stretch, only two couples remained. “When I saw that our competitors had fallen asleep and their lips parted, I knew we had won,” he said.

However, their celebration was overshadowed by sheer exhaustion. “I was happy, but I was too tired to enjoy it. I just wanted to rest and drink something,” Ekkachai admitted.

The Last Record Holders

Their record still stands today, not because no one has attempted to break it, but because Guinness World Records has since deactivated the category due to safety concerns.

That means Ekkachai and Laksana will forever hold the title for the longest kiss in history.

Reflecting on the experience, Ekkachai joked, “Only crazy people would do something like this. A normal person wouldn’t try it.”

Despite the end of their marriage, their record remains a symbol of endurance, determination, and, for a time, an extraordinary love story.