A clash between a foreign tourist and a local vendor at Kuta Beach, Bali, has come to a peaceful resolution following mediation by local authorities. The dispute, which revolved around a pair of shorts, had gone viral on social media.
Smiles replaced tension on Tuesday (May 13, 2025), as a foreign woman and a local vendor shook hands at Kuta Beach, Badung, marking the end of a heated dispute. Their reconciliation was facilitated by beach security officers after the incident gained widespread attention online.
The disagreement occurred a day earlier, on Monday (May 12), when both women engaged in a verbal altercation over a pair of wet shorts that had been hung near a surfboard storage area. The video of the confrontation quickly spread on social media platforms.
Following the mediation, both parties agreed to maintain peace. However, local authorities imposed a sanction: neither woman is allowed to conduct any activity at Kuta Beach for two weeks.
“We’ve mediated the issue and they have shaken hands. However, we decided to impose a sanction. Both parties are prohibited from any activity at Kuta Beach for two weeks,” said I Komang Alit Ardana, head of the Kuta traditional village council (Bendesa Adat Kuta).
The sanction particularly targets business-related activities. The local woman is known to be a beach vendor, while the foreign woman is reportedly the girlfriend of an employee at a surfboard rental business owned by a local resident.
According to Ardana, the local vendor had been previously involved in similar disputes with the same individual. Repeated warnings had been issued regarding the inappropriate hanging of wet clothing in public areas, but the behavior reportedly continued.
“In Balinese culture, it is considered unethical to hang wet clothes high up in public view. From the video, the shorts appeared wet and were hung right next to her. This time, it just went viral,” Ardana explained.
He emphasized that ongoing supervision at Kuta Beach will be strengthened to prevent further incidents that could harm the image of Bali’s tourism sector.