COURTESY MASHABLE
Phuc Dat Bich’s real name has been revealed to Mashable by a former school friend.
The Australian-Vietnamese man known globally as “Phuc Dat Bich” has admitted on Facebook his story is a hoax.
Following this, a schoolmate from Deer Park Secondary College in Melbourne contacted Mashable with a school photo and proof that Phuc Dat Bich’s real name is Thien Nguyen.
This corroborates with research that linked the number plate of the Subaru shown repeatedly on Phuc Dat Bich’s Facebook page with a cached version of an ad on carpoint.com.au. Thien was listed as the person selling the same car in September this year.
The Melbourne resident, who on Facebook now claims his name is “Joe Carr” — as in Joker — created a stir around the globe after proclaiming his Facebook account had been blocked due to his name, which could be seen as offensive when read phonetically in American English.
“I find it highly irritating the fact that nobody seems to believe me when I say that my full legal name is how you see it,” he wrote in January. “I’ve been accused of using a false and misleading name of which I find very offensive. Is it because I’m Asian? Is it? Having my fb shut down multiple times and forced to change my name to my ‘real’ name.”
To prove his name was not a hoax, he supplied a photo of a passport on Facebook. It can now be assumed it is a photoshopped version.
Earlier this week, news sites around the world jumped on the story — including a mention in an analysis piece by Mashable — creating a somewhat viral sensation. Phuc Dat Bitch, as he was known at the time, lapped up the attention.
“I’d like to mention that I am very grateful to those who have been supportive of certain names that populate in different cultures. We live in a diverse and multicultural society and the fact that there are people out there who are supportive and encouraging really makes me happy,” he wrote on Facebook on Monday.
“I’ve never ranted nor wept that my post would get this sort of exposure. But I am glad and honoured to be able to make people happy by simply making them laugh at something that appears outrageous and ridiculous.”
In recent days, his account started to unravel. Australian journalist Trevor Long posted a story on his search for answers, while I received radio silence from the man himself, a “lol” from his friend on Facebook and a story about a cat from another acquaintance.
On Wednesday afternoon, Phuc Dat Bich must have got sick of ignoring the questions of journalists and owned up. With a spiel about making a fool of the media, by essentially refusing to offer the truth, he praised his own story for raising awareness for those with culturally specific names.
“I’ve never believed it’s necessary for it to be mandatory to have your entire name to be published on social media. People should be free to use any name they desire. Facebook needs to understand that it is utterly impossible to legitimise a place where there will always be pranksters and tricksters,” he wrote as the reasoning behind his prank.
“Phuc Dat Bich” has been contacted for comment. Passports Australia has also been contacted for comment.