The Anti-Fake News Center debunks Mae Nak Cambodia claim

2026-02-20 - 07:03

BANGKOK — 20 February 2026, The Anti-Fake News Center Thailand said that online claims describing Mae Nak as a Cambodian folk legend under the original name “Mae Nak Battambang” are false, citing confirmation from the Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture. After reviewing academic sources and credible cultural media, authorities found no evidence supporting assertions that “Mae Nak” is a Cambodian folk tale or that it was originally known as “Mae Nak Battambang”, as claimed on social media. The legend of Mae Nak Phra Khanong has long been recorded and recognised as part of Thai folklore, linked to the Phra Khanong area of Bangkok. The tale has appeared prominently in Thai literature, films and folklore studies. By contrast, international academic sources and Cambodian cultural documentation do not refer to the legend under the claimed name or in the context cited online. The Anti-Fake News Center Thailand said there is no concrete historical or folkloric evidence to support claims that the Mae Nak story originated in Cambodia and was later rebranded as “Mae Nak Battambang”. They added that the posts lack verifiable academic references and could cause misunderstandings over cultural issues.