American expat and internet star “My Mate Nate” released an apologetic video to the Thai people last night, in which he spoke for five minutes in Thai about how terrible he felt.
Internet prankster Nate Bartling previously posted a social experiment video where he tested Thai people’s level of English by saying random, bizarre things to them on the streets such as “You look terrible today!” or “Are you on your period?”
The video caused an uproar in the Thai realm of social networks, as netizens condemned Bartling for intentionally “humiliating” Thai people to make the point that their English-language education seriously needs improvement. He conveniently ended the video with a sales pitch for an English language course.
In the video, titled “I’m sorry,” the American missionary-turned-internet star released a heartfelt apology in Thai after the scandal made him unable to sleep or eat.
“I’m sorry,” he does an apologetic wai to begin the video. “I’m really sorry.”
Here is his full statement translated into English:
I am one of the foreigners who had a chance to get to know and fall in love with the Thai people and their country. Actually, it wasn’t many years ago.
Thailand gave me the opportunity to do what I love, which is filming entertainment videos, documentary and travel videos in all parts of Thailand.
I got to learn Thai culture and the Thai way of living. I admit that there is so much more, so much more, about Thai people and culture that I still don’t know.
I may have acted inappropriately during the videos by dumping the satang coins and editing out parts of the videos, and I may have presented these clips in an inappropriate or incorrect way.
I’d like to say I did not have an intention to talk badly or offend the Thai people, whom I love, who got me where I am today by following my YouTube channel and Facebook. [Thailand is] the country that I chose to live in instead of my homeland.
I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I did not have an intention to offend anyone.
I’d like to sincerely apologize, not only to end this, but I sincerely apologize about everything that happened.
I apologize to my followers and the people in the video, whose faces I did not blur.
I apologize to the woman who could answer my questions but I didn’t put her in the video.
I apologize to the 7-Eleven employees.
I apologize to everybody for I may have acted inappropriately.
I’m trying my best to fix everything that happened. I don’t feel good about what happened. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. Right now I don’t even know enough Thai to explain what I really feel.
I’d like to thank everybody who send me messages and emails of support. Thank you so much.
I’m not gonna let everything stop me from making YouTube videos. I’d like to use this event as a life lesson to help me improve and adjust my life and make the best content I can.
As a foreigner, I have so much more to learn from Thai people.
From now on, I’ll be careful when making videos for my channel. Absolutely careful.
Lastly, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
While Thais are drawn to drama, they also tend to forgive those who learn to apologize.
The video has gone viral last night and received mainly positive comments from Thais who told Bartling, “Mai pen rai.”
