Director/actor Kevin Smith was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight leaving Oakland airport headed to Burbank, Calif. February 13th, because they deemed him a safety risk due to his weight. The Mallrats director was already seated and buckled in, when Southwest personnel approached him and asked him to leave the flight.
As any celebrity would do, he took to his Twitter account to tell the world of the great injustice.
“I broke no regulation, offered no ‘safety risk,’ (what, was I gonna roll on a fellow passenger?),” he Tweeted. “I’m way fat… But I’m not THERE just yet.”
The airline eventually apologized and put him on another flight with $100 voucher for his trouble. He claims to have refused the voucher, but did indeed take the flight. However, all was not forgotten.
“Dear @SouthwestAir, I’m on another one of your planes, safely seated & buckled-in again, waiting to be dragged off in front of the normies,” he continued to Tweet.
Smith then posted a picture of himself settled into his new seat with his cheeks puffed, exclaiming “Look how fat I am on your plane! Quick! Throw me off!”
Southwest, surprisingly tech savvy for an airline, sent him some apologetic Tweets after they saw the outrage at his story and support he received on Twitter for his embarrassing experience.
There now has been a Twitter war between the airline and Smith and Smith followers, and the man who plays Silent Bob refuses to stay silent.
Southwest struck back via the Internet with a post on their blog about the situation. In it, they explain that Kevin Smith originally bought 2 seats, which they claim he always does when he flies, but decided to take an earlier flight, which only had one seat available for him. The airline claims he could not fit and was encroaching on the safety and comfort of the passengers next to him. (Personally, I love me some Kevin Smith, and would kill to be crammed into a plane seat next to him.)
“Southwest instituted our Customer of Size policy more than 25 years ago. The policy requires passengers that can not fit safely and comfortably in one seat to purchase an additional seat while traveling,” says Southwest.
Kevin Tweeted that even though he usually buys two seats, he comfortably fits into one, and put down the arms rests.
What do you think? Was Smith discriminated against because of his size, or is Southwest justified in enacting their policy, even the customer happens to be famous with a penchant for Twitter?
Photo via Entertainment Weekly
i live live in the Bahamas . i have never heard of such fooliness that after he was already seated they would embarass him like that.
I AM A FAT MAN TO I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS I LOVE TO TRAVEL . BUT I AM TO SCARD THAT THEY WILL EMBARRASS ME IN FROUNT OF MY WIFE AND KIDS THESE FUCKING AIRLINES PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE RULES SHOULD RE THINK THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m with Kevin. I am no longer “fat” but at one time I was 316 pounds at 5′ tall. I rolled rather than walked. However, I flew, sailed took trains and car trips and was never ridiculed by any staff about my weight. Despite their policy, they embarassed him and that is unforgivable. He should sue just for the embarassment if nothing else. Let them know that this kind of action will not be tollerated!
I’m not a small person, so I need all of the seat that I have paid for. I have been next to people that either take up half of my seat or half of my lap. It is uncomfortable for both of us. I think we need to focus on the airlines….give us a little more room. Any more it is uncomfortable for “normal” size people to sit in these cramped conditions. Give us more room…….keep the peanuts!!!
The policy is fair as far as I know. I wouldn’t want someone sitting next to me if they are spilling out of their seat and causing for me to become uncomfortable.
If we are both paying the same price, then we are entitled to the same space. If you cannot fit into the same space, then you should buy an extra seat. Its simply.
I am not sure how he was approached by the airline staff but if he was comfortable sitting in the seat but the passesgers next to him were not, fair to say that he needed to board a plan that had 2 seats available.
Its about the comfort of all, not the comfort of some. Not to be all snobbish about it, but same should apply for the buses and trains. People that are morbidly obese or just people that cannot fit into a single seat, should not be allowed to sit unless plenty of seating is available for other passengers. How is it fair that one person is occupying one seat when 2 people can fit there?
I think the airlines should make bigger seats to make sure everyone is comfortable, Regardless of size. Make the seat non moveable, cause sometimes when I’m eating the person in front slams the seat back and spills my food or drink on me !!!!
Here’s a news flash for you. Our entire nation is much heavier than it was when these planes were purchased and outfitted with seats that were comfortable “way back when”. It’s the airlines’ fault that people are uncomfortable, not the passengers’. Are we going to put the entire nation on a diet so the airlines can cram a few more people into seats that are no longer an appropriate size?