2026 Motorbike taxi rally claim debunked as The Weeknd concert video
Thai PBS Verify found this disinformation on Threads
Post claiming “motorbike taxi drivers across Bangkok gathered for a political protest that media outlets refused to share”
Thai PBS Verify traced the misleading claim to a Threads post that featured a large gathering of motorcycle taxi drivers and included on-screen text stating that “all motorcycle taxi ranks in Bangkok have gathered here”. The accompanying post suggested the gathering was linked to a political protest that mainstream media had allegedly refused to report.
Some social media users believed the claim was genuine
Was it a political protest?
A closer examination of the video revealed the original account name embedded in the watermark. Using that clue, Thai PBS Verify located the original TikTok post uploaded by user “talatoei” on Oct 13, 2026.
The original video was accompanied by the caption “Concert #theweeknd #Rajamangala”, indicating it was recorded during The Weeknd’s concerts at Rajamangala National Stadium.
Screenshot showing the original account watermark (left) compared with footage from The Weeknd concert area (right)
Investigators then checked the location using Google Maps and confirmed the video was filmed on Ramkhamhaeng Road near the entrance to Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24, close to Rajamangala National Stadium.
Misleading protest claim (top) compared with the area outside Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24 (bottom)
Map of the alleged area
Original creator confirms the truth
Thai PBS Verify contacted the video’s creator, who confirmed that the footage was taken during The Weeknd concert event and simply showed motorcycle taxi drivers waiting for passengers after the concert ended.
The video’s creator confirms the footage shows motorcycle taxi drivers waiting for concertgoers after The Weeknd concert
The creator said the video had nothing to do with politics. Despite previously disabling comments in an attempt to reduce confusion, some users continued to reshare the footage with misleading claims.
What about the actual protest?
The political demonstration referenced in the misleading posts was organised by the People’s Revolution Alliance to Protect the Nation, led by Kamnan Mano, or Mano Kruakaew. The group has been gathering outside Government House since Nov 8, 2026.
Its main demands include a 10-baht-per-litre reduction in diesel prices to support the transport and agricultural sectors, along with making drug suppression a national priority.
Mano Kruakaew, leader of the People’s Revolution Alliance to Protect the Nation
What is the truth?
The Threads post published by user “ekwrinthrmatan” on Nov 9, 2026, falsely implied that the video showed motorcycle taxi drivers joining a political protest. In reality, the footage is misleading content.
- The original creator confirmed the clip was filmed during a The Weeknd concert and depicts motorcycle taxi drivers waiting to collect passengers after the event. It is unrelated to any political gathering.
- The original TikTok video was uploaded on Oct 13, 2026, with hashtags clearly identifying it as footage from The Weeknd’s concert at Rajamangala National Stadium.
- Location checks confirmed the footage was recorded outside Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24, near the stadium, rather than at any protest site.
- Although the creator attempted to reduce misunderstandings by disabling comments, the clip continued to be reposted and misrepresented online.
Verification Process
- Watermark tracking revealed the original TikTok account “talatoei”, which uploaded the video on Oct 13, 2026.
- Context verification showed the original post clearly described the footage as part of The Weeknd concert atmosphere at Rajamangala National Stadium.
- Direct source verification was conducted through contact with the clip’s creator, who confirmed the video’s true context.
- Geolocation verification using Google Maps confirmed the footage was recorded near Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24, close to Rajamangala National Stadium and unrelated to any political protest area.
Impact of the false claim
- It may mislead the public about political developments by creating the impression that motorcycle taxi drivers or transport workers had mobilised in support of a political movement.
- The claim may fuel distrust in the media by promoting the narrative that journalists deliberately concealed information from the public.
- It unfairly affects both the content creator and motorcycle taxi drivers, whose images were used without context and linked to a politically charged issue without their consent.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Check video watermarks and search for the original source before accepting claims made in reposted content.
- Examine the surroundings shown in a video, including road signs, landmarks and nearby buildings, to determine whether the location matches the claim being made.
- Be cautious of posts claiming that “the media is hiding the story”, as such messages are often used to provoke emotional reactions and encourage people to share content before verifying it.
- Report misleading content when entertainment or unrelated footage is repurposed to falsely support political narratives, helping limit the spread of misinformation online.
