The Italian Embassy in Bangkok has publicly apologised after a group of Italian students sparked outrage in Thailand over their behaviour on a Bangkok Skytrain, with several teenagers later being fined by local authorities.
The incident drew widespread criticism after a video showing the group behaving loudly and disrespectfully towards another passenger went viral across social media. The footage accumulated millions of views online, prompting public backlash and calls for action.
Thai commuters are generally known for keeping noise levels low on public transport as a sign of courtesy and consideration for others. The students’ actions were therefore widely viewed as disrespectful towards local customs and culture.
Viral Video Triggers Public Anger
The video, recorded by a Thai woman and shared online on Jul. 23, captured her asking the students to lower their voices while travelling on the BTS Skytrain.
Instead of responding politely, several members of the group allegedly mocked her request. One teenager was seen raising his middle finger, while another reportedly remarked, “Sorry that we brought money to your country.”
The exchange quickly spread across social media platforms, attracting more than 15 million views on X alone. Many Thai netizens criticised the teenagers for displaying arrogance and disrespect while visiting another country.
The woman involved subsequently lodged a police report, leading to an investigation by local authorities.
Italian Embassy Issues Formal Apology
Following the growing public criticism, the Embassy of Italy in Bangkok released a statement expressing regret over the incident.
The embassy strongly condemned the behaviour of the underage students, who were in Thailand as part of a school educational trip, stressing that their conduct did not represent Italian values or the country’s people.
In its statement, the embassy apologised to the Thai public and reaffirmed that respect, courtesy and peaceful coexistence are principles shared by both Thailand and Italy. It added that the incident should not overshadow the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
Separately, four representatives also appeared in a video message directed at the Thai public.
Students Admit Mistake And Seek Forgiveness
During the video apology, the representatives explained that they had initially planned to address the incident earlier but admitted they delayed doing so because they were frightened by the public reaction.
They acknowledged that postponing the apology had been a mistake and asked for forgiveness from the Thai people.
One representative stated that money could never replace respect and apologised for offending both the individual involved and Thai culture. Another assured viewers that the students responsible would be sent back to Italy as soon as possible and would receive further guidance on respecting local customs when travelling abroad.
The representatives also stressed that they did not condone the students’ actions.
Five Students Fined By Police
According to Thai media reports, the students later met the woman involved at the train station with the assistance of an interpreter.
Videos circulating online showed members of the group apologising individually, with one student apologising directly to the woman, her family and the people of Thailand.
Following the meeting, both parties reportedly agreed to remove photos and videos related to the incident.
Police eventually charged five of the six students with insulting another person in their presence. Each received a fine of 1,000 baht (approximately S$38).
The teenager who was seen making the middle-finger gesture faced an additional public indecency charge and was fined 2,000 baht (around S$76).
Although the Thai woman remarked that the penalties might not have been severe enough, she said she accepted the authorities’ decision. She also acknowledged the sincerity shown during the apologies and believed those who genuinely admitted their mistakes deserved an opportunity to learn from the incident and move forward.