A Bangkok host bar shaved a woman’s head after she allegedly failed to pay a bill of nearly 60,000 baht, prompting criticism and a subsequent apology from the bar.
The incident reportedly took place at a host bar in Pinklao on August 25 and emerged after Chalida Phalamat, better known as Ton Aor Pen Nueng, a Thai social activist and public figure, posted details of the case on TikTok. The bar has since apologised for its handling of the incident.
@tonaor_beone มาฟังเหตุผลจากฝั่งร้านบาร์โฮสกันค่ะ #ต้นอ้อเป็นหนึ่ง #โดนโกนผมที่บาร์โฮส
♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – ต้นอ้อเป็นหนึ่ง(ผู้ติดตาม1.1M) – ต้นอ้อเป็นหนึ่ง(ผู้ติดตาม1.1M)
According to Chalida, the bar later contacted her and said the woman had run up a bill of nearly 60,000 baht but had no money to pay it. The bar also alleged that she used a fake identification card to enter and had previously left other venues without paying.
Rather than reporting the matter to police, the bar manager had the woman sign an agreement consenting to have her hair cut and shaved for 3,000 baht, with the amount deducted from her unpaid drinks and service bill. The bar then shaved her head.
Chalida questioned why the bar chose to shave the woman’s head instead of reporting the unpaid bill to police. She also asked why her head needed to be shaved so extensively.
The bar said the hair was given to one of its workers for donation but did not specify where it would be donated.
The incident divided opinion online, with some arguing that the bar had gone too far while others believed the response was justified.
Chalida said she understood that the venue had business costs and its workers depended on their income but believed the response had gone too far. She also questioned whether the woman’s consent to the agreement may have been affected by pressure at the time.
The bar has since apologised through Chalida and acknowledged that its manager acted rashly out of anger. According to Chalida, the venue plans to contact the woman’s family to discuss assistance following the incident.
Chalida also called on social development officials to check on the woman’s living conditions and wellbeing because her age remains unclear and she may be a minor.
She urged businesses facing unpaid bills or suspected fraud to report such cases to police rather than taking punishment into their own hands.
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