Headlines around the world suggest that an overweight flight attendant is suing Spirit Airlines when she was fired for being unable to fit into her jump seat. The lawsuit, however, is far more complex and involves a serious charge of racial discrimination.
Black Ex-Flight Attendant Was Too Big To Buckle Her Jump Seat Sues Spirit Airlines, Claiming Racial Discrimination
Chelsia Blackmon, a black American, was training to be a flight attendant on Spirit Airlines. During one training course, she was asked to demonstrate that she could strap herself into a jump seat (these seatbelts, unlike passenger belts, feature a four-point safety harness). She successfully strapped herself in, but while on a flight in September 2021 found that she was unable to secure her belt. Since flight attendants are not allowed to use seatbelt extenders, she was removed from the flight.
Blackmon was then placed on administrative leave and given a specified period to shed the weight necessary in order to secure her seat. By the end of that period, about a month later, she was still unable to strap herself in and was therefore terminated.
Blackmon is not disputing that she must be able to fit into the seatbelt, but is suing Spirit Airlines in Florida on discrimination grounds, claiming that a white colleague in precisely the same situation was given more time than her to lose weight.
That is a serious charge and if true, Blackmon has a strong case. It is not clear how she learned a white colleague was given more time or whether the two situations were analogous, but such discrimination is simply unacceptable under U.S. law and absurd as it sounds that a flight attendant unfit for the job would be able to sue, that is precisely what anti-discrimination laws are intended to protect against.
CONCLUSION
Blackmon alleges that Spirit Airlines acted “willful and malicious and in reckless disregard” of her civil rights. I’m not sure she even has to prove that. All she has to do is prove that her white colleague was given more time to cure the same problem. If she can, she wins. If not, she loses. It’s that simple.
(image: Christopher Doyle // H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo)
This is what happened when you enable the perpetual oppression delusion and grievance politics of the left. Some people actually start to believe it to be true.
That’s lunacy.
in other news Sam Brinton stole another suitcase and has been charged with grand larceny.. https://www.newsweek.com/sam-brinton-warrant-las-vegas-airport-harry-reid-1765820
Let for Russia doesn’t capture him. Biden may end up trading him for some isis leader of something.
I think you should consider capitalizing the word Black when referring to a Black American. Black implies an identity and a shared experience, it doesn’t merely serve as a descriptor of the melanin in one’s skin. I think most media outlets are doing this nowadays. Just a thought…
The media is not capitalizing white. Does white not also imply an identity and a shared experience?
No it doesn’t , you precious little white boy.
Wow. This reply strikes me as…what is the term…oh yeah: RACIST.
How do you know this FA is Black and more merely black?
It’s quite simple to estimate the melanin content in one’s skin, much harder to evaluate their identity and shared experiences. Or should we assume one inevitably implies the other?
I hope you report back on this story. Chucky FA are common now.. love to see them exit the OWE. Once hired some FA put on the pounds from all the delicious airport food, 1am uber eat taco bell order at Marriott etc.
Show the readers a pic of the black woman, for cryin-out-loud!!!
Why do you want to see pics of Billy Bob’s mom so bad
Yeah! Let’s get a look at the wildebeest!
How about everybody drop the race discrimination clause when they really mean that they are being picked on for being too big to do their job properly, or sit in a normal economy seat, or insist on bringing their great-dane dog on board because they need a friend to fly with them.
Sounds like Chelsia should lay off the fried chicken for a while. Last time I checked, being a fatty isn’t a protected class.
Fat asses are always complaining.