The Italian embassy in Bangkok issued an official apology following an incident involving a group of Italian teenagers on a school trip to Thailand, who were recorded insulting a woman on a BTS Skytrain. The episode, which sparked widespread social media attention, occurred when the woman asked the students to lower their voices, reminding them that “in Thailand we don't scream.” In response, the students mocked her by falsely claiming to be from Thailand and proceeded to call her a derogatory term.

A video shared online showed one student making an obscene gesture by raising his middle finger at the woman, while others laughed and continued to create noise. The teacher accompanying the group was recorded sarcastically commenting, “Sorry for bringing money to your country,” and telling the woman to “shut the f--- up.” The teacher later attempted to downplay the incident by saying, “They are just children.”

The footage quickly gained traction, accumulating more than 16 million views on social media platform X, prompting public outcry and an official response from the Italian embassy. The embassy condemned the minors’ "inappropriate behaviour” and expressed regret to the people of Thailand and anyone affected. In a statement posted on Facebook, the embassy emphasized Italians’ respect for Thai cultural values centered on courtesy and harmonious coexistence.

Following a complaint by the woman, five students were fined by authorities. The students and their teacher met with the complainant at Samre police station in Bangkok on Saturday evening, where they conveyed sincere apologies. Four students were fined 1,000 baht (approximately £22.35) each for public insult, while the student who made the middle finger gesture received a 2,000 baht (£44.71) fine. The woman accepted their apology and acknowledged their remorse.

The embassy later shared a video featuring apologies from the teachers and the student responsible for the offensive gesture, expressing regret to the Thai public. The incident underscores the growing scrutiny of foreign tourists’ behavior in Thailand and the importance of cultural sensitivity during international visits.