Gabriella Ferlita
A woman has received compensation after being sat next to two overweight people on a plane.
Dr Sydney Watson, an Australian political commentator, was the recipient of backlash when she posted a photo of herself ‘wedged between two obese people’ during her three-hour-flight last week.
She wrote in the unsympathetic post: “I am currently - literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight.
“This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I'm stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours.”
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Dr Watson continued her insensitivity by stating that she didn't 'care' if her mindset 'is mean'.
"My entire body is currently being touched against my wishes,” she wrote, failing to realise that the other parties involved were also in the same predicament.
“I can't even put the armrests down on either side because there's no fking room," she continued. "I'm sick of acting like fatness to this extent is normal. Let me assure you, it is not."
She concluded: "If you need a seat belt extender, you are TOO FAT TO BE ON A PLANE. Buy two seats or don't fly."
This led the flight company, American Airlines, to engage on social media with the YouTuber.
The airline bluntly stated at first that their ‘passengers come in all different sizes and shapes’.
The airline added it offers 'a variety of seat sizes and styles, so [its] customers can select what works best for them' - the variety being the different classes of seat you can purchase prior to take-off.
However, after further heated Tweets and email communication from Sydney regarding her journey, the airline appeared to cave - sending her an email stating that they would give her $150 airline credit.
She then went on to shockingly state that she’d rather use that credit towards somebody ‘who needs a PT or gym membership’.
UNILAD has contacted a representative of American Airlines for a comment.
There are many underlying medical reasons why someone might be struggling with weight gain, including Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnoea - it doesn't always come down to choice or 'wanting to be fat'.
However, while it's easy for someone to declare that others should minimise their 'fatness' so that they can be comfortable, it's important to remember that those with weight-related struggles are just as worthy of space.
If you’re experiencing low self-esteem, contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 between 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). Alternatively, you can visit their website here.