A Ford Motor Company executive took to social media to mock a wheelchair-bound passenger for accepting free wheelchair assistance after watching Fox News on her flight.
Ford Executive Calls Out Passengers Who Watched Fox News Then Oreded Free Wheelchairs At San Diego Airport
Barrett Evans, pictured left in the photo above, is the Chief Learning Officer for Ford and flew into San Diego on an airplane with seatback screens, where he noticed his neighbors watching Fox News. He then took to Threads to post the following (now deleted):
View on Threads
Elderly passenger on my flight from San Diego yesterday enjoying Fox ‘News’ for the entire ride. Deplaning and I notice he and his wife getting into their airport wheelchairs to be pushed to next gate. My filter was malfunctioning…
‘Love to see you supporting DEI.’
‘Not me!’
‘Yes – you. That wheelchair, and the human pushing it, are provided at no direct cost to you – rather by a subsidized cost attributed to every passenger in the airport. Provided to level the playing field – for you.’
Not all passengers need assistance. But for those who do – for whatever reason — the service ensures they can access the airport, navigate security, and board their plane safely with dignity.
The cost being shared ensures that the service is available to those who need it, not just those who would afford to pay extra.
This is a real-world infrastructure of equity in action: acknowledging that different people have different needs, and creating systems to support those differences fairly.
As Evans sees it, offering care to disabled passengers is a form of Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI) too, a concept that is about more than race and sexuality but pursuing equal dignity.
Many disagreed, however, with a typical response, “Wrong this is ADA which predates DEI. DEI would be pushing one person out of the wheelchair and pushing another person in according to someone else’s political agenda.” Others responded, “Everyone screaming about how this actually falls under the ADA is missing the point that the ADA is a form of DEI.”
ADA is The Americans with Disabilities Act, though what actually governs courtesy wheelchair transport is The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA).
Regardless of whether he was technically correct or incorrect, his attack was mean-spirited and such vitriol is not the way to win hearts and minds…I’ve come to realize that people tend to be deeply set in their ways and the best way to change minds is not to preach to them like they are fools, but to model your life differently and only defend your worldview when asked. Yes, I know this is hard sometimes…for me especially.
There is room for dialogue for those “keep your government hands off my Medicare” or “I believe in tolerance…except when it comes to Israel” folks. But not on an airplane or when stepping off one. Not unless it is solicited. Otherwise, you make the problem worse…
This guy may be feeling smug and self-righteous, but mocking people for watching Fox News and using a wheelchair is not a good look, regardless of any logical tension in doing so.
image: Evan, on left > @kdinarda / Instagram
“Chief Learning Officer”
There’s a useless job title if I’ve ever heard one…
How about “Chief Impact Officer” at BetterUp?
What’s the picture have to do with the “article”?? And anyone watching Fox News deserves to be mocked.
It’s just a picture of him?
Well done Matthew .
A picture tells a thousand words .
I hope that this man’s vile comments do not truly reflect the demographic he is standing in front of !!!
Sure Pablo. Sure. That’s pretty sad. Let me guess, you’re a kind tolerate person who has good moral values. Am I right? Didn’t think so. You’re the problem going forward
You must watch a lot of MSNBC and CNN. My guess is that you get mocked every single day of your sad existence.
The Chief Learning Officer should learn to mind his own business.
What I’d like to know is did this person tip the wheelchair pusher. If not, any ridicule is justified
One thing we agree on, those bastards that don’t tip the Prospect or other wheelchair pushers are true POS’s.
Tip for what? Min wage in San Diego is 17.25 an hour. How much work does that job entail? Walking through the airport pushing someone and standing around and waiting for them to get off the plane is pretty easy. Very little work.If two people an hour gave a 5 dollar tip, they would be making 27.25 an hour.
OK? In San Diego that gets you a tent to live in
Housing is a disaster in southern California. It’s unaffordable to buy for most of the population 1 million plus for tiny houses built in the 40s. The point is what do other workers make? Do you tip fast food workers? .What about people working at Walmart? They aren’t making a lot unless you are a manager. What do baggage handlers make? They aren’t tipped.
My mom told me to never talk about politics, religion, death, and appearances in public and to mind my own business. I’m glad she taught me right.
Yet you’re here participating about the exact topic you mother taught you to avoid.
You’re here looking for a “Job Well Done” trophy?
Congrats in using a racist word as your name and insulting random people who made a comment about regular social etiquette, something you lack. I think you deserve the “Job Well Done” trophy on top of a Darwin Award! You should be so proud of yourself for being so ignorant!
So agreed Mark. Joseph thank your parents for all of humanity
Understand that you’re trying to make a point on social etiquette, but it came off a bit ironic. However, it does not mean that the person who replied to you should insult someone who has the heart in the right place
I’d rather like a news source interested in presenting unbiased news. Either there are too few like me, or not enough willing to work in such an environment. So, I know if I watch Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, or whatever, I’ll get news with their biases. So, often, I skip these sources. But, I’ll check them out on occasion. Not d!ckhe@d CLO is going to assume I align with what I’m watching on a plane. News flash, idiot, I watched Godfather II the other day, and, surprise, I sctually do not support orgsnized crime.
Increasingly, I’ll have to get news from the BBC, France 24, Channel News Asia, DW, News 1130 Vancouver, CTV, Straits Times, etc. The CBC in Canada is not bad except it is anti-American, has been for many years.
Unfortunately, there is bipartisan support to cut Medicare. For 2025, Biden cut Medicare payments to doctors and clinics for office visits and everything done in the office or clinic by 3%. Trump did not reverse it. This kind of cutting has happened for several years.
As far as news in the U.S., unfortunately it is becoming less trustworthy. Fox News, CBS News, ABC News, CNBC, all present biased reported, sad to say. Increasingly, it’s necessary to read foreign news sources to accurately see what is happening in the U.S.
There is bipartisan bias. The Democrats are a bunch of jealous people who want to raise taxes using phrases like “pay their fair share”. Why don’t you, the one who says it, pay more taxes? The Republicans don’t like any programs that helps Blacks, Hispanics, or women. Maybe a bunch of racist people. What if you are racist and jealous? Which party to choose? Or neither racist nor jealous?
What is with the pic at the top? Is that a picture of the guy involved?
Wouldn’t be shocked the guy with that job title is a bone smuggler.
The person in question is pictured left, and the man on the right is his husband.
So… Who’s the pitcher and who’s the catcher? It may seem trivial but it does add some perspective.
Not the time or place, for sure. But providing free wheelchair service to customers most certainly is DEI in its purest form. Because the airline is giving special preference to these people who could find their own way and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. (The snark is intentional, for those who can’t fully grasp the analogy)
Not so. ADA trumps all of the DEI nonsense. It is actually law. Wheelchairs are in no way in the DEI kerfuffle.
Because it’s law it’s not DEI?
Laughably ignorant.
Will Delta ban him for taking pictures of passengers and shaming them online?
I don’t think there is anything wrong with respectfully helping others to appreciate the big picture. That’s how we learn. And I wouldn’t characterize calling attention to a blind spot as a mean spirited rant. Just my opinions.
His big picture is wrong.
He misses the point like most lefties.
He seems a bit judgmental to assume things about the disabled elderly couple. My elderly in-laws might watch Fox News on occasion just to see what the “other side” is saying. They are die-hard Democrat voters. I also would say that taking care of disabled people in our community has bi-partisan and isn’t considered DEI by most. At least not in the way DEI has been practiced over the last ten years.
It’s good then that Donald Trump didn’t cut any of deiA initiatives, right?
Typical lib.
Brain dead. Probably suffering from aids dementia.
A dei hire crying about people hating dei.
Dei is dead and it’s not coming back. Even democrats have dumped it.
Dei stands for didn’t earn it and dei is why we have a competency crisis.
Mediocre minorities being put in positions well above their abilities.
you mean former Ford exec?
and no matter what you think of Fox News, they consistently win in the number of viewers for all cable news and frequently has programs that win viewership with the network news channels because Fox news picked a strategy different from most other US news sources.
Fox News is going to make the guy VERY famous in the next few days. Then Trump will put pressure on Ford, yea his days are numbered.
It’s “DEIA”, not “DEI”
I’m glad he did it. He shouldn’t have posted it, though, as that’s poor taste.
I agree with PlaneoTx. I’m absolutely glad he did it; posting about it wasn’t necessary. And people who think he’s a jerk for doing so, need to focus on the real issues.
Chief Learning Officer. If you don’t agree with what I am teaching (propagandizing), you are less than human.
He’s toast. What a moron.
Someone who posts a picture of himself like that turns out to be a smug, mean-spirited asshole? Color me shocked.
Exactly.
Well , well, well, it looks like someone’s mom let them have their computer back
Yeah I’m back bitch, and twice as feisty.
I have to admit, while I generally agree with the Ford guy, this might be the most smug sort of thing someone says to a fellow passenger, much less posts on their public profile.
I have nothing against general DEI as a means to increase the talent pool, but these types of “chief Learning officers” really ruin it and give fodder to the extreme views with this type of smug piety.
Agreed…
Matt, I’ll never understand why you love to sensationalize stories that you know are going to end up with people calling others “bone smugglers” and “probably suffering from aids dementia”. A huge photo of a gay couple with a rainbow flag, followed by DEI nonsense, you knew how this was going to devolve. I don’t at all like the way this guy made his argument either, but whether you agree with it or not, was it worth another round of vile vitriol in your comment section?
People on the left like this guy are exactly why they did so bad in the election. Us moderates and those on the right are tired of being talked down to and preached at all the time.
And DEI has NOTHING to do with the free wheelchair service. ACAA covers that one.
So DEI mandated by law isn’t DEI. That isn’t how it works.
DEI at work. Tolerance, except for those with whose beliefs you disagree. So typical. Love that he is so committed to his beliefs that he disabled his social media.
Anybody think he would’ve said it to a guy who looked like Reacher instead of an old man in a wheelchair?
The guy is a pious coward; let’s hope he gets what he deserves.
Live and live- at least on airplanes for God’s sake.
BTW he took down his linked in page and is trying to disappear fast. But he lives in Cincinnati and his address and phone number are easily discerned. There’s even a nice picture of his house on Zillow. Talk about stupid….
This is a pretty psychotic post. If anything happens to this guy, you should be a suspect
Totally agree. He/ she/ it tried to dox another here before. Unacceptable.
Woke offended that somebody watched a network he disagrees with? Shocking.
Hey, Libtards: this kinda stuff is why Trump won.
Trump won because people like you like being lied to.
Another example of this blog going downhill fast.
Don’t fret over the distinction between DEI and ADA because they are working at taking down the ADA, too. Long-standing guidance on hotel and lodging among those removed a month ago since that is easier to take down than the law itself: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-actions-combat-cost-living-crisis-including-rescinding-11
It’s not even what you think, it’s just hate. He starts with “elderly,” then to “Fox News,” then to his “wife” (being heterosexual). Then, he moves on to the “wheelchair” because the person is old and/or disabled. He moves on to his “filter,” which appears to be filled with hatred, sin, and judgment, and then he assumes the person is cheap and is using other people’s resources.
I don’t know what employees at Ford are supposed to “learn” from a jerk like this, but as a Ford stockholder, it sure makes me reevaluate my long-term investments there.
I’m sure Ford will miss you when you sell your 2 shares
The tolerant Left strikes again
Two sickos
Maryland please look up the word “mouse” and look in the mirror.
If I really cared to dox anyone (I’m not some liberal reporter like Taylor Lorenz) I could call you out in a minute.
I would never, ever, dox anyone. Period,
Unlike liberal reporters I have principles.
But go for the cheap shot- that’ pretty much all you have.
Yes you did by your earlier comment. Picture of his home? Phone number to be found? What were you hoping might happen ? You are a danger to this community. You have demonstrated time and again your racist homophobic temper . And the previous attempt? You know exactly what you tried to accomplish. Fortunately the commenter was for more intelligent. And thankfully ( for you ) I am not into the low-rent name calling. But it appears that’s all you’ve got.
* And if I wanted to dox someone I could call you out in a minute * Nice cairns. A direct published threat.
Maryland you’re a mouse and a coward,
I published nothing that was not already widely known and published. And no, I won’t call you out- as much as you threaten me to- or even- as I suspect- you would like me to.
Mice always run back to their holes. Join them and be happy.
If you want to come out of your hole you can do it on your own. But I suspect you’re like your hero Taylor and others on the left- dox- hide- and then run. While accusing others of doing what only the left wing has been noted for.
More name calling & threats ( blog posts pointing out where to find people are punishable ) . But you can’t control your anger.
Oh geez Maryland. Just plain bite me. I would never and have never doxxed anyone and you can’t, couldn’t or won’t
ever admit that. You just want to take a cheap shot and accuse me of ka-ka because you hate my politics.
Get over yourself.
Mind your god damn business and leave people alone. Too many people treat their fleeting ideologies like a religious crusade.