Natalie Hage is a gorgeous model and admin of the groundbreaking Instagram channel effyourbeautystandards. Recently, she was flown out for a photo shoot on American Airlines, where she had to deal with a seriously awful seatmate who body-shamed her, and her takedown of his behavior is the stuff of legends.
The man sitting next to her was texting an unknown recipient before takeoff. Natalie could see the text messages (looking at her Instagram post below, this guy wasn't exactly subtle) where he was insulting her body. After the plane lands, she decides to confront him and films the experience. "I couldn't help but notice before we took off you were sending really horrible text messages about me," she says. After initially getting defensive and saying, "I'm sorry, I was drinking," he immediately apologizes. Honestly, though, it sounds like the kind of apology meant to shut down the confrontation. There was no honest self-reflection or empathy.
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The man then condescends to her further by implying that her body should prevent her from sitting in the exit row. "When they ask if you're willing and capable to assist people in getting off the airplane in an emergency, do you honestly think you are?" he asks her.
Natalie, exhibiting a remarkable display of composure, tells him that she works out five times per week and that he knows nothing about her body. "My body is none of your business," she says, and "don't ever treat anyone like that again." With that, she gets up to walk off the plane, where he has the gall to ask her out to dinner. Truly the absolute worst.
Let's note that his flimsy excuse isn't really an excuse for his behavior at all. Plenty of people imbibe at the airport taverns before a flight and manage to not body-shame other passengers. And yes, flying sucks for all of us, but that is also still not an excuse to humiliate another human being. Natalie held her poise in this appalling situation, but we look forward to a day where she wouldn't have to deal with this in the first place.
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