Furious dad hits out at airline for splitting up family on flight to 'accommodate obese man'
A furious rant from a dad-of-three has gone viral after it was labelled fat shaming - just one week after his pregnant sister was forced to clean up her toddler's dropped popcorn on a flight.
John James is the founder of Strong+Sexy Fit supplements and brother of a second sister, country singer Jessie James Decker.
James vented his anger in his Instagram Stories complaining about the situation on a flight after his family was allegedly forced to split up to accommodate an 'obese' man.
This comes just one week after James' sister, Sydney Rae Bass, (wife of Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher, Anthony Bass) was forced to clean up after her toddler on a United Airlines flight.
Advert
James booked the entire four seats of the second row in first class during a return flight from the Bahamas - with one child on a seat and the others 'on laps', but were ultimately 'completely split up between rows 1 and 3'.
He then detailed sitting on the first row next to someone 'peeling back the wrapper of his Double XL king size chocolate bar'.
When looking for the reason why they were split, he believed the answer was this:
"The gentleman peeling back that chocolate bar was 500+ pounds and needs more space only available in the first row."
He continued: "Can we not agree thought that it's BS that we pay that much for flights only to get split up because chocolate man compulsively eats and does not exercise and nowhere between 175-500 pounds has he gone 'hmmm maybe I should do something about this?'"
James then said calling obesity a medical issue was 'co-signing' on it, claiming the man's food choice was a 'conclusive piece of the puzzle'.
"I genuinely don't give a s**t what others do with their bodies honestly until it affects me directly... I'm not 'bullying' him, I actually genuinely pity him," he claimed.
"Addiction to food is an addiction like anything else and those people need help."
After apparent backlash he says: "I know this is going to hurt some feelings but you can either get upset or get motivated and get moving. Obesity is not healthy."
James went on to clarify further that he 'genuinely wants y'all to feel strong, sexy and fit,' but telling people to do what they want 'as long as they're happy' is damaging.
"Sometimes you need to hear a painful truth to grow. Growth does not happen in your comfort zone, so if my words made you uncomfortable then maybe it's time to do some growing."
He suggested that the '1%' who don't agree are obese too.
Reddit users reacted with anger with some not understanding how the man had anything to do with the situation: "Didn't they purchase 2nd row seats? So the man in the 1st row has nothing to do with their 2nd row seats being messed up."
To which another replied: "It was just an excuse for fat shaming."
Another comment read: "Adapting to unexpected situations is a life skill. The indignant Inflexibility is…… a choice.
"Also the “I want (women) feeling strong, sexy and fit” screams manipulating insecurities for personal/monetary gain."
One user agreed that growth doesn't happen in your comfort zone but argued: "No, but it also doesn’t happen when a person feels shamed or bullied or like they can’t do anything."
Another simply said: "Trash family. Every single one of them."
James signed off somewhat sarcastically saying he hoped that everyone 'enjoys listening to our kids whining because they are split up and not sitting next to mommy and daddy.'
"And more importantly... I hope that guy enjoys his chocolate bar."
Amelia Jones