Italy's embassy in Bangkok has issued a public apology after a group of Italian teenagers on a school trip were recorded insulting a Thai woman on public transport. The incident, which occurred on the BTS SkyTrain, was captured on video and widely shared on social media.
In the footage, the Thai woman is heard telling the group to be quiet, stating, "In Thailand, we don't scream." When asked where they were from, the teenagers mockingly replied "Thailand" and then called the woman a "b****." One individual was seen giving her a middle finger while others laughed.
A teacher accompanying the group also made dismissive remarks to the woman, sarcastically saying, "Sorry for bringing money to your country," and then told her to "shut the f*** up," asserting that they were "just children."
The video garnered 16 million views and provoked a significant backlash online, with many social media users criticizing the tourists' behavior and lack of manners. Some comments pointed out that while tourists may bring economic benefits, they should also bring respect for local culture.
Following the widespread outrage, the Italian embassy in Bangkok released a video featuring three adults and one teenager from the group. In the clip, they bowed and expressed deep remorse for their actions.
"We wanted to shoot this video yesterday, but we were worried and scared so we postponed," a male adult stated in the apology video. "We wanted to ask for forgiveness for our behavior to the Thai people and the country." Another adult woman added, "I know that money can't buy respect and I'm really sorry for all the people offended and for having offended Thai culture and Thai people."
A young man identified as a teenager also apologized for his conduct on the train, admitting, "It was wrong. I'm very sorry for my behavior." A second adult woman conveyed that the group did not condone the behavior and that the students would be returning to Italy. She added that they would strive to re-educate the group on respecting Thai culture. The group concluded by thanking Thailand for its welcome and humbly asking for forgiveness.