Woman claims she was ‘shamed’ and asked to cover up on a flight for wearing inappropriate outfit
Jess Hardiman
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@Nvr_GvUp
A woman has spoken out after being ‘shamed’ for her inappropriate outfit on a flight recently, claiming she was asked to cover up.
We all want to be comfortable while travelling, which is something that will always mean different things to different people.
But for Maggi Thorne, 42, the cosy outfit she opted for landed her a strict telling-off from the flight crew, with the traveller saying she was told her ‘attire wasn’t appropriate’.
Thorne – a seven-time American Ninja Warrior contestant – was flying from Orlando to Nashville on a Southwest Airlines flight when a flight attendant ‘shamed’ her in front of all the other passengers.
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She posted a photo to show what she was wearing that day: a blank tank top, high-waisted pants and a black cap.
Taking to Twitter about the incident, Thorne explained: “@SouthwestAir attendant just shamed me in front of passengers saying my attire wasn’t appropriate. A tank top and high-waisted pants.
“Flight 1039,Is this really happening in 2023? The passengers around me were stunned as she shamed me for all to hear.”
In a follow-up tweet, Thorne said ‘nobody else has authority’ on what you decide to wear, adding: “I believe in in the goodness we each possess. To have someone publicly shame anyone on their outfit (regardless here of who) is unacceptable.”
On social media, however, people were divided - with some actually siding with the flight attendant.
"That's not a 'tank top' that's a bra," one person argued.
Someone else said: "The flight attendant knew or thought it was a bra and that's why she said something. And no one probably even cared or heard the comment. She offered some advice not meant for social media. It's you who is doing the shaming."
A third agreed: "Put some clothes on. It's a plane not a gym. The attire should fit the event."
But another person commented: "That was ridiculous. Your attire was fine, the flight attendant was out of line, as well as any who sided with her."
In an interview with Insider, Thorne said she declined the flight attendant’s request to put on more clothes, as she knew the airline didn’t have a formal clothing policy – just a passenger contract that states ‘wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene, or patently offensive’ isn't permitted.
"She came over and asked me about my outfit and said that she thought it was too revealing and not appropriate for the airline," Thorne said.
"It was incredibly embarrassing.”
She continued: "I'm not a confrontational person, but what happened isn't OK and someone should say something about it."
Southwest Airlines has since offered an apology to Thorne, saying a complaint has been filed on her behalf.
UNILAD has reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.