Openly shared everything on the show Woody Talk tearfully recounted the rise and fall of "Nara Crepe Katoey"'s life path. Her time in prison made her realize the value of freedom and the guilt she had accumulated, revealing past words that hurt her mother and have become wounds she now wants to apologize for.
Additionally, Nara frankly admitted that the more criticism she receives, the more income she earns, using drama as a tool to create buzz and opportunities she never expected to have again in life.
How do you feel about the statement, "When viewers' hatred becomes your source of income"?
"I feel it’s accurate because the more people criticize me, the more interest is generated. But it depends on the level of criticism—whether it’s because I made mistakes or due to my work. Today, most criticism comes from people engaging with my work, which increases visibility.
It makes people curious about what they are criticizing me for, attracting many viewers. When criticism includes some entertainment in the story, it’s different from destructive criticism meant to bury someone for a scandal. Our show is the kind where people enjoy criticizing—even if they don’t fully understand.
Meaning, for example, we have a different behind-the-scenes story; we may have prepared or produced content a certain way, but they seriously criticize it. I’m happy because it shows they’re invested in what I do. I’m sure I’ve succeeded. About criticism being a money-making machine—yes, it’s true. That post earned me 30,000 baht, which is a lot.
Critics say our online show is inaccurate or inconsistent, so we issue statements. When we make mistakes, we apologize because people want to know. We explain everything, then promote the clinic, and people say, "Nara tricked me again," which gets shared widely and increases visibility."
How do you balance knowing when to stop because people catch on?
"I watch the comments. When I make clips, if many people are unaware, shares are high. But once people know, shares drop below 100. When shares fall under 100, meaning people know our direction, it’s time to stop and rethink our plan. We also watch current events and incorporate them when appropriate.
I feel the world isn’t like before, where constant praise was needed. Nowadays, no matter what you do or what happens, there will always be people who agree and disagree. Sometimes criticism is pointless, just people venting their emotions.
As Woody said, I used this point to show people that before criticizing someone, you should read fully and understand their story. Criticizing without understanding is embarrassing. I incorporated this idea into my work."
Which experience has been the most valuable lesson for your growth?
"Going to prison. I’ve never said on any show that prison was a valuable lesson for me. Being in prison means I couldn’t do many things I wanted in life. I wanted to hug my mother but couldn’t leave. I wanted to do many things but was unable.
It made me reflect that prison is an experience I could never buy and won’t repeat. It forced me to ask myself what mistakes I made to end up at my lowest and what I must do to change others’ views so they don’t see me as just a prisoner, though that’s difficult.
So I decided that if I couldn’t do those things, I had to start anew. Early tears in prison were for my family, for my mother who knew nothing and had to suffer. I remember the day reporters surrounded my mother, who waited for me at the Crime Suppression Division, unsure if I would return.
I told her, "Mom, I’ll come back. Tell my sibling I’ll come back." She held hope and waited until 8 p.m., but I never came out that day. Seeing the footage later, I realized I caused her pain."
Do you believe you did everything possible to avoid hurting your mother after release?
"Yes. Recently, I rarely answer my mother’s calls because she constantly asks if I’m okay. She spends more time on social media and sees all the criticism. When I’m criticized, she replies for me. She says, 'Don’t answer, I’ll respond for you.' When she calls, I sometimes hang up because I’m angry.
I get mad at myself for causing her trouble. When she argues with others, she also gets criticized, taking the blows for me. Although she says it’s okay, she naturally feels it because she’s my mother. I’ve even wished I wasn’t her child to spare her pain.
She often says, 'I endure and fight for you.' I feel she suffers for me. If one day she wasn’t my mother but a good mother to someone else who didn’t have to suffer because of me, I’d want her to be there instead, not struggling because of me."
Do you still hang up on your mother?
"Yes, I do. Whenever I talk to her, I complain about being tired, saying, 'Mom, I’m so tired.' She tries everything, like offering to drive to see me even though she’s in Ayutthaya and I’m in Bangkok. She tries to help me feel better. I don’t want to talk much until I’m ready, then I’ll go home and talk fully."
But I recommend next time your mother calls, just listen. She just wants to hear your voice.
"There are many things she wants to do but fears because of me. I once told her I didn’t want her involved, preferring to be with friends, not her. She wanted to join a trip but I said, 'I want to be with my friends more than with you.' She said, 'Then I won’t go,' which hurt me until now because at that time I hadn’t yet experienced life without her.
I thought I needed friends to be happy daily, but after prison I realized friends weren’t always there, only my mother was, every day."
What do you want to say to your mother?
"I want to sincerely apologize for all the wrongs I did to her. I said many hurtful things without thinking, but she felt them deeply. I once told her, 'I’ll buy this house, but you don’t have to live here; I prefer my friends to living with you.'
Every time I want to buy this house, she avoids looking because she’s hurt by my words. I want to tell her I’m sorry for all my bad words. I may not have a home like others now, but I hope to build one for her someday. I’ll do my best to make her happy and never cause her pain again."
There’s a phrase you said when someone donated money during your hardship, feeling like they were making merit for a deceased person?
"Yes. Honestly, during prison, I felt people’s lives fall to the lowest points in few ways: 1. Prison, 2. Death. I was lucky I was still alive. Being alive allowed me to learn from fellow inmates that being sincere to friends yields returns.
Don’t say you have no expectations from friends because everyone does. In prison, I had many types of friends: ordinary, influencers, businesspeople. Only a few bought me meals.
Each meal was precious. Even a bag of green curry meant a lot. It showed they hadn’t forgotten me. In prison, you can’t eat as you like; you eat what’s given, which often doesn’t suit your taste. Knowing they hadn’t forgotten me was comforting, because being forgotten hurts the most."
If I die, you’ll probably visit for seven days at the funeral, then forget. In the end, everyone forgets after death. I always say no matter what, people forget. Even couples who loved each other forget after one dies. The survivor moves on because everyone loves themselves."
When did you think you would give up?
"When I reunited with the 'Hair Carrying Gang.' At that time, after my incidents, I was faded out by the older gang members. Every time with them I was happy, feeling mature.
But after release, Nisa and others stopped talking to me. Many changed, and I knew it was because of me. Anyone can check my history online; it’s extensive. I wondered how I’d move on.
Then I met the Hair Carrying Gang again. Nisa and Mix talked to me again; everyone reached out. That moment made me resolve not to make mistakes again because I didn’t want to lose good things in life. I realized I had a second chance, fans, love, and brand owners supporting me. I decided to change, becoming a new Nara."
Who disappeared after your fall?
"Many, not just for me. Many people have many friends, but when real problems arise, you see who stays and who leaves. You hear things like, 'Without money, you’re like a dog.'
I never believed it until I experienced it. Then I truly understood what 'being a dog' means—when I had nothing left. You see people’s true nature. I cried alone often because I’m not good at explaining and was often criticized (voice trembling, about to cry)."
What do you want to change to move forward?
"I feel if I gave up then, crying over social media comments while they waited to step on me, I wouldn’t want anyone to hurt me. I try to speak clearly, organize my words, create better expressions, but I can’t. I want to learn from many people and read more, but I can’t."
Do you feel any personal issues about why you are the way you are?
"I’m hot-tempered and often speak without consideration. At work, I’m blunt because I want the best outcome, expecting perfection. I used to call people 'stupid' and criticize them in front of others, causing embarrassment. I seemed immature and childish, which is a flaw I’ve been trying to improve."
Do you still feel affected by comments?
"Sometimes. I try not to respond, but I block some and can’t block others. I respond occasionally to show that some comments are wrong. I’m not bothered by words like 'cheater' or 'prisoner' anymore; I’m used to them."
But the comment that bothers me most is 'Nara is warned but doesn’t listen.' I question that there are many ways to warn. If a fan says, 'Nara, I think it’s better this way,' I appreciate it and say I’ll improve.
I won’t say I’ve changed 100%, but I feel 60-70% of me is new now because I had many bad past behaviors. When facing such comments, I turn the drama into humor so I don’t dwell on them, and people stop talking about me negatively."
If one day no one cares about you, would you go back to selling crepes?
"Honestly, I could go back to the old life but wouldn’t sell crepes or do what I did before. I believe if I’m no longer Nara Crepe Katoey, I can always do something new because I started with nothing."
Being Nara Crepe Katoey is one thing; if that ends, I can be something else. But I must do everything happily. Selling crepes then wasn’t as painful; happiness came from meeting people and kids saying, 'P’Nara, I want your crepe.' Even though crepes weren’t very profitable, I gained fame, shares, and joy from kids lining up for what I made. I felt happy they came for my craft."
What would you say to those who feel life is very hard today?
"I’m not afraid because I fear returning to pain. Pain teaches me to overcome whatever happens. Everyone faces many different life stories and must solve them in their own way."
People always ask why I’m fearless despite everything. It’s because I fear pain. I went to prison because I made mistakes. Now, starting anew, I’m cautious because I fear returning to prison, where pain was constant. I tell everyone that if you fail or face hardship, remember that
even if no one loves you, the person who loves you most is yourself. Don’t desire what others have, because are they truly happy? Ask yourself what you want and do that. Always consider if what you want will be good for you. Everyone has a brain; everyone can think and act."
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