In a dramatic fall from grace, British influencer Ellis Matthews, once a reality TV personality and online sensation, now finds herself imprisoned in Thailand after overstaying her visa.
The 32-year-old, originally from Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, had been living in Thailand for four years, documenting her seemingly luxurious lifestyle on TikTok under the handle @mumontheruninasia. Gaining 16,400 followers, her videos showcased life in a tropical paradise—allegedly funded by UK taxpayers, as reported by The Daily Mail.
One of her most controversial videos showed her flaunting a wad of cash while clad in a string bikini. “I picked up my Disability Living Allowance today, and I’ve been doing so for the past four years of not living in the UK,” she boasted.
Matthews claimed she received £2,300 (101,000 baht) per month from the NHS due to a diagnosis of six mental disorders. “Without in-house treatment, without me being put into a hospital for a minimum of one year, my prognosis is quite poor. Therefore, I need ongoing treatment costs to be met by the NHS, by the taxpayer—thank you very much.”
However, her seemingly carefree life in Thailand came to a crashing halt when police raided her Pattaya residence, arresting her for visa overstay violations. Matthews now claims to be facing dire conditions in a Thai detention center.
One of her TikTok posts from inside the facility depicts a fellow inmate behind bars in a grimy cell littered with trash, captioned: “I don’t care about me but please pray for my son.”
Her three-year-old son, Cairo, remains in Thailand, though reports suggest Matthews has little connection to her older children in the UK, referring to them as “surrogacies,” according to The Daily Mail.
Matthews’ claims of state-funded luxury living have sparked widespread skepticism in the UK. While some government benefits are available to citizens living abroad under specific conditions, Thailand is generally not included on the list of approved destinations.
British citizens on a tourist visa can stay in Thailand for up to three months, with the possibility of a one-month extension. Overstaying incurs a fine of 500 baht (approximately £11.40) per day.
A GoFundMe campaign set up in Matthews’ name has raised £150 (6,500 baht) so far, purportedly to assist her and her son. However, Matthews denies any involvement with the fundraiser, leading to further doubts about her situation.
A separate TikTok account, @lifeWithEllis2025, has warned followers against donating, stating: “Ellis is fed, watered, and sheltered whilst detained. Cairo is being cared for and doesn’t need any money.”
Before her arrest, Matthews was no stranger to controversy. She once appeared on the reality show Judge Rinder, claiming—without documented proof—that she had received £6 million (263 million baht) in compensation for an abusive childhood marked by drug raids and over 130 foster placements.
With her online empire crumbling and legal troubles mounting, Matthews’ future remains uncertain as she navigates the harsh realities of the Thai judicial system.
