A Japanese TikToker with around 600,000 followers has apologised after staging a pickpocketing video on Bangkok’s Khao San Road that falsely portrayed a local man as a thief, leading to reputational damage and disrupting his employment. The apology came after the video drew widespread criticism for misleading viewers and potentially harming Thailand’s tourism image. Get today's headlines by email The video asked viewers: “If you walk with your wallet sticking out of your pocket, will it be stolen?” It was initially presented as though the creator had genuinely fallen victim to pickpocketing before later revealing that the incident had been staged as a social experiment. The channel owner later admitted asking a local man to pretend to remove a wallet from his pocket during filming in exchange for in-game items or money. However, the man was reportedly unaware that the footage would later be edited to make it appear that he had committed a real theft. After the video went viral, the man was reportedly viewed with suspicion by tourists and others in the Khao San Road area, affecting his ability to work. Images of official documents shared online indicated that he filed a complaint at Chanasongkhram Police Station, claiming the video damaged both his reputation and the tourism image of Khao San Road. The man’s younger sister also posted on social media, stating that her brother did not know the footage would be edited in a way that portrayed him as a thief. She said the incident placed his job at risk and called on the content creator to accept responsibility and explain the facts to her brother’s employer. The video also prompted criticism from Japanese online communities. Some users argued that the content unfairly suggested Thailand was less safe than it is, while others called for legal action or for the channel to be banned. Others said the participant’s face should have been blurred before publication. The TikToker later released a video apology, admitting he created the content to attract views and acknowledging it had caused distress to Thailand, the victim and the victim’s family. He also said that after speaking with the victim’s younger sister and learning her brother had lost his job, he recorded an apology addressed to the family and asked that it be shown to the employer to explain what had happened. According to the TikToker, the victim’s younger sister later informed him that her brother had been allowed to return to work. The creator bowed in apology and accepted full responsibility, saying the entire incident was his fault. Khoasod reported that here has been no disclosure regarding the progress of the legal proceedings initiated by the victim, and the relevant authorities have not released further details about the case. ScreenRecording_07-13-2026 14-53-40_1.mp4 Join the discussion? 14 July 2026
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