Thai greeters suspended after Chinese internet mocks their fake smiles

Over the past few days, Douyin users have created numerous parody videos poking fun at the pair of young women

A pair of Thai greeters have been suspended from their jobs after becoming the object of widespread mockery on the Chinese internet for their forced, fake smiles.

In footage that set off a storm on Chinese social media, the two young women are seen greeting Chinese tour groups at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport as they go to board buses. Dressed in traditional Thai costumes, the girls place a garland around each tourist’s neck before posing in a photo with them in order to properly welcome them to the so-called “Land of Smiles.”

However, immediately after each photo, the girls’ smiles disappear, replaced instead by a bored, blank expression until it’s time again for another photo.

After watching these clips, Chinese Douyin users couldn’t help but poke fun at the pair, spawning a large number of parody videos.

You can watch one such video below:

And many, many more:

Unfortunately for the two women, these videos have made their way back to their home country. On Wednesday, the Thai Tourist Police held a press conference in which the pair of greeters publicly apologized for not managing to keep a smile on their faces.

“That day was really hot, and some Chinese tourists mocked me, but I didn’t know that they were taking a video and I’d be widely criticized,” Coconuts Bangkok quotes one of the women as saying.

“I feel stressed and sorry because internet users verbally attack me. I’d like to apologize to the society for my inappropriate action.”

The two girls have been suspended from their posts for a week in order to allow themselves to “calm down” after becoming the objects of such ridicule. Reportedly, they each make only 300–400 baht (60–80 yuan) a day.

[Images via Coconuts Bangkok]