Thai bar apologises after manager shaves woman’s head
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A bar in Bangkok has come under heavy criticism after a manager allegedly shaved a young woman’s head over an unpaid bill of 60,000 baht, or about HK$14,000. Reports said the woman entered the venue on August 25 using a forged identity document and was unable to settle the bill before the manager took her to a police station after the shaving. The case drew wider outrage after video of the incident was uploaded to TikTok on August 27, prompting accusations that the bar had resorted to vigilante punishment rather than legal channels. The bar later apologised, saying the manager had acted impulsively in anger and that it was trying to contact the woman’s family to discuss compensation.
Key Points
- The bar said the woman had repeatedly left without paying in earlier incidents and described her as a repeat offender for unpaid drinking bills
- According to the bar, the woman was forced to sign an agreement to sell her hair for 3,000 baht, deducted from the unpaid drinks and service charges.
- Video circulating online showed the manager using clippers to cut the woman’s hair short and then shave her head before taking her to police
- The woman’s mother rejected the bar’s version, saying her daughter had offered to repay by instalments but the proposal was refused.
- Family members also said the woman had visible bruises suggesting possible physical violence, and Bangkok police have begun an investigation into the case.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers travelling in Thailand, the case is a reminder that payment disputes at nightlife venues can quickly escalate into alleged abuse when businesses bypass formal legal procedures. It also raises concerns about whether any agreement signed under pressure can be treated as valid consent, especially where possible violence or vulnerability may be involved