In a world of fake and overtly partisan news, we have two video clips to examine. We are then tasked with determining whether what is portrayed is legitimate or a setup that seeks to expose a “double standard” that actually does not exist.
Claim: Man With Trump Thrown Off Southwest Airlines Flight For Eating With His Mask Off
The “incident” took place on a Southwest Airlines flight on Tuesday. As the story goes, a black man wearing a pro-Trump cap and mask lowered his mask to eat nuts prior to the takeoff of his Southwest Airlines flights. Flight attendants then decided to throw him off because he was a Trump supporter.
As “evidence” we have the videos below:
Here is the last 45 seconds of the video where the Trump supporter is escorted off the flight. pic.twitter.com/VEAl08umXB
— Grant AZ 🇺🇸 (@Grant503) October 13, 2020
Can you sense my skepticism?
Why I’m Very Skeptical
Here’s why I am skeptical:
- The videos start so late and ends so abruptly.
- What happened leading up to this moment? Why was another FA called? Why did the video stop so suddenly after the corroborating testimony from the “witness” in the row behind?
- How convenient, though, that the woman across the aisle so clearly narrated the video and interrogated the flight attendant.
- How convenient that the man across the aisle from the Trump supporter jumped up to leave the flight in protest.
- Check out the guy’s actions while he is speaking to the flight attendant:
- He’s no longer eating, yet his mask remains lowerd
- When asked to put it on, he places it over his mouth, but not his nose
- Moments later he removes it again
- There’s talk of a podcast…huh?
- Godwin’s law is invoked when the narrator says, “In Germany they also said, ‘Just comply.'”
Based upon his action and the suspicious editing, my hunch is this was all a setup. I suspect this man may have had a bag of nuts in his hand, but refused repeated flight attendant instructions to place his mask on. Maybe he had no food out at all. Can one savor a bag of nuts for the entire duration of the flight, eating them slowly but surely, one at a time?
Allow me to say, with respect, that if you do so, you are an idiot. This has nothing to do with masks themselves. It has nothing to do with their efficacy. It has everything to do with following the legally permissible, non-discriminatory rules that an airline, as a private (versus government) actor, is allowed to set.
But boy oh boy you should check out the Twitterverse. Right wing posters are going crazy over this incident, demanding that the Southwest flight attendant be fired and Southwest issue an apology and compensation.
UPDATE: Southwest Airlines Responds
Southwest Airlines just sent me the following note:
Our reports indicate that a Customer traveling on Flight 2632, with scheduled service from Tampa to Dallas, was asked repeatedly by more than one Employee at different times to wear a face mask. The Customer did not comply with our Crew’s multiple verbal requests—including while boarding the flight before seated. Therefore, the decision was made to return to the gate and re-accommodate him on a later flight to his final destination after receiving assurances he would comply with our face covering policy. We regret the inconvenience the situation created for all involved, but our Crew must support the well-being and comfort of all Passengers.
Our policy clearly states that we require all Customers over the age of two to wear a face covering or face mask while traveling to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. We communicate this policy to all Customers at multiple touchpoints throughout the travel journey including during booking, in a pre-trip email sent prior to departure, and during a required acknowledgement that’s part of the Customer Health Declaration Form which appears during the check-in process on the Southwest app, Southwest.com, Southwest’s mobile website, and airport kiosks. We do acknowledge there may be times when a Customer needs to briefly remove their face covering, for instance, to eat, drink, or take medicine. However, we expect these instances to be very brief, and Customers should put their face covering back on as soon as possible.
It appears my suspicions were correct…
CONCLUSION
Perhaps this incident is the perfect bellwether of the horrible partisan age in which we live in. But I’m not buying the story. Something smells rotten.
To my readers who support President Trump or take a suspicious look at masks, let me say this – the airlines are not out to get you. They want your business too. And maybe they are overreacting when it comes to masks, but they are not just virtue signaling…it is because they believe it is for your own protection based upon guidance from health experts in the Trump Administration. More importantly, it is because they believe it will allow them to sell more seats. You know…free enterprise.
And a reminder: while practicing civil disobedience in a public place is your constitutional prerogative, that right does not extend to airplanes or other private businesses.
So…what is your assessment of the incident after watching the video above?
The Russian bots are hard at work in the “twitterverse”
whhhhhooooooooweeeeeeeee, that lady sure looks rusian. kick her off too. she pulled down her mask
How interesting that the airline condemns Trump supporters while asking for a bail-out. How interesting that EVERYTHING against conservatives is made-up while everything liberal is OH so true! You lost my business Southwest! If you really cared about Covid, how about creating more room between seats than people chewing their knees!
Here’s the thing… granted Delta, SW and Alaska are doing it right but the other carriers (United and AA I’m talking to you…) they have no business being the mask police when cramming their flights so full we are in each other’s laps.
And if we really want to be committed to a mask policy that works… it needs to be true n95 or better.. not these joke surgical masks (watch someone who has been wearing them for awhile… you can actually see the droplets fly through the fabric because they are infective when wet).
So let’s do it or not do it but stop penalizing people over half measures.
A black man supporting trump? Good he got kicked off the plane. Trump does not care about minorities. He cares only about rich whites. How much did this black man. man get paid to pull this this stunt?
wow JMarieD… most bigoted comment of day award. You must not get out much
Private or public your rules don’t go above our liberties and civil rights. The law says you can’t discriminate base on gender, religious beliefs or race for example. My private business cannot tell you I won’t serve you because you are a woman. These face mandates are just a joke! And 70% (verified at the CDC web page) that has contracted the virus wear masks all the time! There’s no scientific evidence they work! Their policies should not be able to go above my liberties and civil rights. Period!
@Desiree your president caught the virus and didn’t wear a mask…so not wearing one spreads the disease too. So….DONT FLY…if you can’t respect what a business does. Just like if I don’t respect YOUR BUSINESS I won’t shop there or use your services.
Allow me to be skeptical of your skepticism. You wonder why the video starts late but that’s easy to explain. Not everyone is at the ready to record video on their phones like a Karen. Wouldn’t you be more skeptical if the video started BEFORE it unfolded.
Also, who cares what happened before if he’s now wearing the mask. Are you automatically booted for not wearing it during any part of the boarding process if you take “corrective action”? If so, they would have stopped him the moment he entered the gate,no? Instead we wait until he’s seated, wearing a mask and about to eat some peanuts?
Awe, poor snowflake JMarieD…with all that TDS going on. Must be pathetic to live like that. Typical liberal “tolerance”…
You came up with a scenario based on no facts, based on your politics. You have a witness who saw what happened, who talks about it and you dismiss her.
Wouldn’t it be more suspicious if they started filming before the supervisor came over?
The over the top partisanship is what annoys most Americans.
Lady your as messed up as the author of this piece! Trump has been doing more for the black community than your Obama ever considered…but you go ahead and spew your lies and garbage rhetoric!
Your obviously a sad sad person trump has done more for minorities than obama WOW more than a black president, and also clear evidence shows biden is a rampant racist 100% racist wheras trump has never not once been racist only dems accuse him of what they do, thats the normal action.
Lets do it and say it was trump.
Of course the author is skeptical. The left wings love all, unless they don’t get their way. When that happens they throw pink p-word hats on and storm the streets. Colleges let all the students get out of classes and offer everyone counseling for having to cope with trauma of losing. The longer video does not cut off immediately after the lady behind confirms.
And this is why our country is in the mess it is in. Lady I would love to hear what you would have had to say if it had been Biden face mask. Programmed communist.
Image the coverage this would’ve got if he was sporting a “BLM” hat or mask… never mind he would’ve gotten a pass, pure and simple…
You, TRULY, must widen your horizons (come out of your blue bubble).
I and MANY (millions) of minorities support President Trump.
Voted for him and will vote for him again (I am an Independent).
Your ignorance clearly displays your bigotry and disrespect for we of color and anyone that doesn’t think like you.
It is obvious to me that folk like you have never been outside this country to see and realize how great this country TRULY is.
I have been to places where people JUST have enough water let alone proper nutritional foods.
Come out of your cave and breath…
Another trump deranged democrat, I look forward to Nov 5th when we see the utube and twitter videos of you all crying and screaming as Biden crawls back into his celler awaiting the knock knock from the doj.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8840191/Don-Jr-slams-Southwest-ejecting-passenger-pulled-Trump-2020-mask-eat-nuts.html
Very good article
I was very suspicious black man wearing trump maga hat really? Got kicked off southwest airline for not wearing a mask if this isn’t a setup i don’t know what it is they followed the CDC rules asked him several times sir please wear your mask he wanna play stupud ok stupid is is stupid does Off The Plane Now
Suspicious of a black man wearing MAGA? Do you hear yourself? Perhaps you should broaden your horizon a bit. Visit youtube, Google Blexit, #walkaway, etc.
As to a suspected set-up scenario; this author conveniently left out already vetted facts. This group was traveling together. The woman filming is an attorney and captured what she deemed necessary to help her friend. The man who also left is her husband. He accompanied the man as a witness.
What about others In the video, that did not have their Masks on?? I find it interesting how the official SWA back filling (covering their asses) by saying he was non- compliant prior to boarding the plain. The man seemed confused and very meek and compliant it’s just he wanted to know why.
Wow yet another white knight trying to sound politically correct, while making extremely bigoted comments for the world to see!
This could be an example of racism in the dictionary. Lol
Wow suspicious of a black man wearing trump hat, omg you must live in a posh white area and only watch cnn because millions of black and other minorities support trump, that’s a fact wow can nit believe your comment.
Probably correct, but it would be interesting to hear more about the passenger who narrated and contradicted this story. Remember, every police shooting has 2 sides as well.
I’ve tried to find the FA or even speak personally to the young man thrown off. Seems that no one wants to talk…
KrisAnne Hall is the person behind the camera. She’s not hard to find. KrisAnnehall.com. The man that left with the guy who was booted is her husband.
The lady behind the camera is KrisAnne Hall. She’s not hard to find. KrisAnnehall.com. The man who left with the guy who was booted is her husband. She has no reason to pull a publicity stunt. You can also find the full video on her YouTube.
So I started off thinking this article would reflect poorly on the airline. But after reading it, it appears this was a publicity stunt by the passenger. So why give it more publicity? If because that is the purpose of this blog, please denounce the behavior more strongly and from the top.
You read Lucky’s “balanced” take? I think it was a publicity stunt. But others think differently. I’m offering my take and call it like I see it. I could be wrong. I wasn’t there and am filling in the gaps based upon my own biases.
Isn’t this the same anti-mask guy who videotaped on AA?
https://viewfromthewing.com/black-conservative-activist-delays-american-airlines-flight-videotaping-his-refusal-to-wear-a-mask/
NO, and they don’t all look alike. How absurd. You are showing a famous guy, David Harris. What a comment. You must be kin to Matthew.
I saw this, and was impressed by your writing. Why can’t we get to this place where we have reasonable discussion and debate that may end with “we agree to disagree “. Thank you for being incredibly rational and reasonable in your article. I too am not 100% convinced about the event. That being said, my career experience involves research, science, policy development and implementation, and risk mitigation in the health field. I even initiated development of a respiratory safety program pre-covid so I know the “science”. It is essential that decisions made in policy have evidence based research and science backing them so you don’t cause further harm by making up your own rules based on theory. I have seen all of that go out the window over these last several months. I flew this airline last month and it was miserable. I did everything they said for fear of being banned from the airline. I saw attendants constantly remind people to put their mask on in-between bites and sips of food and drink. It was so incredibly stressful. I didn’t even need this video to determine flying is not in my near future until it is a more enjoyable and reasonable experience. Respiratory safety is not new. We have processes and designated equipment in place for every kind of respiratory illness and i promise the approach today is embarrassing. I believe that is a reason there is so much division around this issue.
Nope. Different dude. That one is David Harris. Great job giving him publicity though. Trump 2020!!
Enjoy 20 more days!
Matthew you must be one of those idiot leftist to say this was a publicity stunt… you are so dumb!!
Just because you are so racist to the point you think ALL BLACK PEOPLE look alike, doesn’t mean you have to jump from your left wing chair to further prove what most conservatives have always known about you guys.
The Black guy on the AA video was David Harris … if you could open your hate filled eyes that you have for black people, you could CLEARLY see and know… they are 2 different people. But why change the way you are…? Hell if it’s one black person it’s all black people to you right? —- Don’t come back with an ignorant statement as.. I was simply asking a question… — because it’s CRYSTAL clear it’s 2 different people and a simple google search, much like you did to find the other video… would have told you Davids name…try lifting your hood up next time, maybe you’ll see better.
Nope!!! Nice try though!
So you actually 100 percent believe if this guy had. Black Lives Matter hat and no justice no peace face mask on he is kicked off the flight ? Really ? The FA standing near the front of plane not saying anything like a coward is black . He saw another black man who thinks for himself and that’s not allowed . Nice try though .
Don’t make assumptions. I’d be skeptical of a video like this no matter what the passenger was wearing.
Yet no skepticism of a 10 second video of a cop taking action? You liberals are only skeptical when the video makes you look bad.
“How convenient, though, that the woman across the aisle so clearly narrated the video and interrogated the flight attendant.
How convenient that the man across the aisle from the Trump supporter jumped up to leave the flight in protest.”
That information was clear from when the story broke. What was ‘convenient’ was how you happened to miss it. It allowed you to run with the slant you did. Can’t allow reality to interfere with the narrative, and if that means leaving out information, so be it. I guess you just might suck at your job but at what point does incompetence rise to the level injustice.
What are you talking about?
Walla, are you a man or a gay?
What I think Mike is trying to say is, that you really can’t have looked much into it before posting this, as they’ve made it clear that they all were traveling together, which IMO is pretty clear from the video. The man thrown off is traveling with the woman, who is an attorney, as a cameraman for an event in Oklahoma, I believe it was.
You aren’t offering anything. You wrote a story with your mind already decided what you believe. It shows in the comment “it doesn’t exist”.
Well in fact it does and it is even effecting children in school. Two cases in the last two weeks of students either being attacked or punished for believing in the President.
The fact you think those stories don’t exist shows how clueless you are to the truth. I recommend expanding your view or you’ll continue to look like a biased reporter who cuts corners to make your sorry fit your narrative.
This is why the media is a laughing stock right now!
Look at the back of your airline ticket. It states you must comply with all flight attendant directives. It does not say you can question a directive. You agreed to this policy when you bought your ticket. This policy was restated on the website as well. if the flight attendant tells you you must wear your mask then you do as you are told or they have every right and authority to remove you from the plane. of course I understand it’s difficult to eat with a mask on but this was a peanut snack period certainly this guy was not starving. we all need to make sacrifices for the public good and he could wait until he landed to stuff his face with peanuts. Or how about some preemptive planning and eat before you board? In any case this is not about eating, this is about following the flight attendants directives at all time. Has anyone ever won when they’ve questioned a flight attendant? No. do as you’re told and if you want to fight about it then get a lawyer when you land.
Well said Joe, couldn’t have said it better myself.
Whatever your Pelosi flavored “setup” theory reveals, in the end it’s still a man being kicked off a plane for his benign and constitutionally protected opinion. That’s a fact.
What is constitutionally protected onboard an airplane?
“What is constitutionally protected onboard an airplane?”
This comment shows how incredibly unqualified you are to have any penmanship power at ALL! Lol
If its American plane (especially in American territory), then you are as constitutionally protected on the plane as you are off!
Secondly, your bias (admitted bias) opinion, was obviously decided long before this even occurred.
A journalist…well “real journalist”, should never make such a biased opion on such a delicate subject. I mean you went above and beyond an opion of, “they’re right or wrong”.
I don’t think you had any facts at all beyond, “those things in the video, right there…are people”. Lol
The writer implys that is convenient for the woman across the isle to be documenting this and the man next to her exiting the plain with the Trump supporter….Did you happen to think that these people might have been traveling together? The other guy is wearing an American flag buff….so yeah, they’re all together and no not a setup. I’d have my friends back too, video rolling if they were being interrogated for no reason
You are correct in that this is your take on what happened. This is simply an opinion piece by you influenced by your own personal bias. The left is always accusing the right of conspiracy theories when there is none. I dont even have to guess which side of the political spectrum you are on. You are just like the rest of mainstream fake news. This is not journalism.
Your a fake and concoct nothing but bullsh***! YOU are what is WRONG with the media you disgusting POS!
I totally believe it’s real in this libtarded indoctrinated society we live in. Go Trump. MAGA!!!
At this point Don’t you think by now PEOPLE would get it. Keep your dam mask on. You pull it up a little to drink and put a peanut in your mouth. You know you did it on purpose!! Grow up.
Until we ge a handle on this virus do the right thing. F Trump I’m so sick and tired of his childless behavior. Your only making it worse.
Southwest as also been a pain in the ass about everything so no I’m not surprised but they were doing there job. You know what the rules are before you got on that plane so what happened after that SIR is on you. Vido or not. Bottom line.
Wow man the bias is horrible in this article.
The gentleman wearing a Trump hat is nothing less than sensationalism. Until that man was thrown off the airplane, a number of things had to happen. I was in the same situation on 10/10/2020 . The flight attendant was going up the aisle. I was eating, chewing and reaching for my water when an attendant snapped that I had to keep my mask on unless I was “actively eating” . I said I was chewing a cookie and getting my water. Given the chance I would have said all those words. Again she mentioned I had to be actively eating or drinking. I opened my mouth to say something but was not even given a chance to speak. Again I heard the phrase “actively eating”. With each scolding I got more and more defensive. I am usually a good natured person. I thought about it and came up with ” just say yes ” and do what they say. My second thought was that they need to explain what they mean. We listen to the safety stuff so would you please demonstrate actively eating for us? I thought I was. We were getting close to my destination and I’m sure the same might have happened to me. Difference being the headline would’ve said ” White grandma thrown off plane for eating.
This had nothing to do with color or politics. It happened. The people writing and analyzing this unfortunate incident have gone beyond the facts. Let’s pick a spot and go around in circles. And while we’re at it see who else we can throw in the mix. That’s the problem.
Got to love how you just take the word of Southwest Airlines. Of course they’re going to say that.
This is clearly a staged event. How ridiculous to harass the flight attendants who are just enforcing rules of their employer. The woman filming and the guy that voluntarily gets off are clearly in on it.
There are other people in the unedited video that did not have masks on, the only one that was asked to leave was the Trump supporter. Sorry we are not so stupid as to notice when the media be it you or CNN or the NYT is trying to make the facts fit their Reason the video started late was because they did not start filming until after the harassment started.
He was just handed nut and started eating. The full video shows other eating with their masks off…yet he was the only one kicked. I can always spot the tds suffers aka liberals in the comments. Yall are blinded by you need to figure signal at all cost.
We are the silent majority, but I can tell you after the election, my pro trump stuff will be all in your face 24/7.
Good, at least then you can get your 400lb ass out of the basement for some fresh air.
You should donate to Trump’s campaign instead of spending time on the internet making comments. They are desperate for money, they can’t even run TV ads in the midwest!
I doesn’t Matter Who He Supports!! Keep The Mask On Please!! Covid Kills!!! Bottom Line!!!! People Some People Who Smoke Don’t Respect Others as well!!! Smoke I’m the Air Spells Covid!!! MASK OFF Spells Covid!!!!! GOOD GRIEF!! Grow Up!!!
Come back here 11/4…won’t be pretty for y’all mopping up after the Biden Blue Wave
Thanks for insulting people in your liberal lying article. You’re a good bully democrat! You make them proud. Take the insults you said and look in the mirror and say it to yourself. D*mb*ss. Have fun when you meet Lucifer in hell.
Lol
Nice try at damage control
lying leftist trash
** And a reminder: while practicing civil disobedience in a public place is your constitutional prerogative, that right does not extend to airplanes or other private businesses.**
Interesting statement after the months of violent (aka peaceful) protesting that has been going on, that’s left thousands of private businesses have destroyed, lives ruined and innocent people injured or killed in the name of “civil disobedience!” I call BS on this article and it’s author!!
False-equivalency. I think the protestors who looted and vandalized businesses and statues should rot in jail or be put to work under the exception clause in the 13th Amendment.
Tik Tok trolls accidentally gave the campaign $15,000 thinking they can replicate the Tulsa rally where over a million people RSVPed, but only around 2,000 came.
Shut the f*** up with your conspiracy theories you California f***
Mr. Kint,
I can understand your scepticism. But how since we were traveling together and therefore we defended our friend who in no way disobeyed instructions are we “in on it” and “staged”?
The video starts so abruptly for the very reason that we weren’t setting this up. The supervisor suddenly shows up and we were caught off guard but realized that someone had swiftly escalated something.
Nobody “harassed” a flight attendant. On the contrary. Our friend followed the instructions “you may take down your mask momentarily to eat” there were no repeated warnings as claimed by the attendants. This is confirmed by at least four passengers. There were other passengers drinking or having there masks lowered, yet our friend who is a black Trump supporter was singled out and immediately thrown off the plane.
These same 2 attendants mocked another passengers for wearing “stars and stripes” on his mask, according to what we were later told. The lady was quick to film and defend because 1. She is an attorney 2. She was in the same traveling party. I left with my friend bc well, he’s my friend and I’m not going to say so long buddy handle it yourself!
Additionally, our group was traveling to an event to teach the Constitution. The female attorney was overheard by the attendants talking to another partner about the nature of her work. It appears they didn’t like a so-called “conservative personality” on their plane.
The Nazi comment was to a loudmouth in the front who said “why don’t you just follow orders”.
The supervisor having heard from witnesses sent us on our way on another flight. End of story.
James, kudos to you for standing up for what is right!
This article is pure conjecture, without a thread of proof to it. What a bunch of malarkey.
James, thank you for your input. If you want to write up your version of what happened from start to finish, I will publish it tomorrow. Please reach out to me at the contact form above if you are interested.
Matthew, just to find a better perspective, I searched your site. I see you were escorted off a plane for taking a picture on United? Outrageous. So, exactly what is it that makes you decide this man, and now multiple passengers on the plane, are all not telling the truth? Just clue us in, the hat, his race, his demeanor, the fact he is traveling with an attorney who asked VERY good questions? What is it? Just curious. It is ok, and we should all believe it happened to you but, wait this other guy is making it up?
It wasn’t his hat or or his race. It was partially his demeanor (not wearing the mask properly). But you have to understand I have worked political campaigns before. The motive here is unmistakable. What a perfect case. A black man being harassed by Southwest Flight attendants for following its own mask policy. Plays right into the narrative that masks are only about control. It needlessly divides Americans. Read my blog and you’ll see I hate masks. But I wear them 1.) because it makes others feel better and 2.) is at least somewhat effective by every account I’ve read and 3.) because a private business is entitled to sets its own policies with the larger purview of the law.
I had no motive to lie about the photo incident. For what? It could not have been publicity because no one read my blog back then. It severely interrupted my trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan. It jeopardized my lifetime elite status with United. And instead of flying nonstop in United’s new business class seat I had to fly via Kuwait in its old one. Unlike yesterday’s incident, there was simply no valid motive to fake it. That proves nothing alone, but may help you understand why I am suspicious.
You can be a skeptic but it is silly that individuals reading your piece should believe you and not the gentleman in the video or the poster because you are somehow, in your explanation, a better character than they are. This is obvious by summing up your judgement of him by how he acted in a short time frame then following it up with multiple positive qualifications and characteristics you yourself have.
Southwest could have clarified their policy there and it would have been settled but they did not. The employees are human too and may have feelings that they wrongly expressed towards the man.
Do you not think they were not inconvenienced as well, just like you, by being told to get off the flight? Or are you more important?
Should they believe Southwest Airlines?
This author is a joke and this article is nothing more than political assassination of conservatives . Only mentally unspectacular people would buy your load of horse s***!
You keep saying private business – it’s PUBLIC you ***hole! Your “journalistic” skills are SEVERELY lacking if you can’t even get that fact right.
What planet do you live on? It’s not 1978 anymore. Hint: ADA.
I read your blog back then
Mr. Klint –
Please do follow up with Mr. Hall. I would really be interested on his input as he was there. Perhaps he won’t give an unbiased account since it was his friend, but I don’t feel like this was a setup at all. That the video started halfway through is a big indicator that they were not trying to do a “setup.”
I do appreciate hearing other opinions for sure and I admire that you put your opinion out there and are willing to rationally converse with people that may disagree. The lack of civil discourse lately is sad to watch.
Thank you.
Thank you for further detail, James. I watched the video and did not think it looked like a set up at all. Further, I thought the gentleman who was kicked off the plane was very polite in trying to deal with the attendants. The fact that there are witnesses really undermines Southwest’s case. I hope a lawsuit will be considered; especially since Southwest corporate now appear to be lying about the circumstances instead of doing what they should and issuing an apology and firing the attendants involved.
So you’re telling a black man to “just comply.” Isn’t that what keeps black man from getting shot by police? The answer is yes. Push that advice all around the country.
This writer is obviously a boot licker, sarcastic and speculative drawing his own conclusions. Probably gay and liberal as the day is long, but since that wasn’t the right type of black man he has to go. The empathetic white libs are so tolerant-as long as you sing and dance like a BLM victim should.
Classic right wing bigotry and hatred. Your kind enjoyed a freak black swan event and 4 years in power, but reason and acceptance will be triumphing in 20 days.
Feel free to head back to QAnon 4Chan chump!
You may be skeptical, but you didn’t actually provide any evidence that this is a set-up.
Neither does the video that this was a genuine event. Key gaps in the coverage or even narrative on Twitter lead me to that conclusion. Regular readers know I don’t take a look at issues from a hyper-partisan lens. In fact, I hope I am wrong and then I will loudly condemn Southwest. But too many things are too convenient in this story.
Yes, Lee. I was going to say that I was skeptical of the entire article because the author didn’t bother to identify the people across the aisle, the woman “narrating” and the man who “jumped up to leave the plane in protest”, as the husband and wife who, basically, employ him. This does not show well for the author. Great research!
The testy responses by the author here also sound less than professional. If you’re wrong or whatever just own up to it. Never heard of liveandletsfly.com but the overall crap coverage of this incident doesn’t endear them to me. I’m not buying the “not driven by anti-Trump animus” line, either. The responses sound a little too panicky, as TDS sufferers are wont to sound.
My husband was on this flight a few rows back. This man was wearing his mask when he boarded the flight. The southwest announcements also said you can take your mask down when eating. These three individuals may have been together, and they may have been prepared to video & yknow their rights but this was definitely not a set up!
So, I have to ask this question of the writer. Do you question EVERY video in this manner? If not, then please go look in the mirror and ask yourself what the heck you are doing? Innocent until proven Guilty is a standard but, not to this writer? You have multiple people, that were ON the flight, clarifying this for you yet you remain obstinate? Are YOU politically biased in this review? I am ok if you are, just give us a disclaimer at the beginning. Quite honestly, after reading it all, I question YOU more than anyone else. Things happen on flights today that would never happen before. I am a multi million miler. I honestly believe you need to clarify as this is not a good look for you.
We are all biased. But my bias is not driven by anti-Trump animus. I see a video that looks suspicious. I’d rather err on the side of caution, when my discernment kicks in, than fall prey to a fake story:
https://liveandletsfly.com/american-airlines-exposes-wheelchair-fraud/
Had you pulled this on any black guy other than a trump supporter you would be out of a job by now, or this website without a hoster.
Perhaps you should reflect upon that a little bit.
Also, your take on this story was revealed to be complete hogwash, so I don’t know why you put a little addendum at the end to let your readers know. Otherwise, you’re just adding to the never-ending echo of bigotry.
Best regards.
“Revealed”?
Based on the interview? I think NOT.
There is nothing to substantiate the opinions in this article. The passenger is holding a drink during the first 2 minute video which is enough to be in compliance with their policy of having the mask down while eating or drinking. It does not say you have to put it up between sips. Trump supporters have faced harassment continually over the last 4 years. Imagine the violence you would receive walking down the street in North Philadelphia where I live. If we are speculating on things then it’s just as likely the crew was treating him poorly for being a black Trump supporter.
I am a lifetime user of Southwest Airlines. In fact Southwest is the only airline I ever used until now.
After this article defending the actions of the steward, I will drive or not go..
You’re going to lose many customers over this one. Apologize, fire the steward and try to make ammends with your customers instead of making excuses, crying setup and allowing political views to corrupt your business.
Yeah I’m sure Southwest Airlines, the employees and the passengers were all in on it. Why would southwest willingly give themselves bad press? Why would they allow their multimillion dollar aircraft to be used as a prop for a publicity stunt? Some dumbass people on this thread.
Of course Southwest wasn’t in on it. If anyone was in on it, it was just the passengers who wanted to make a strong point ridiculing Southwest for following the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.
His mistake if it was indeed a setup, or just pushing letter of the law, then he shoulda been eating sunflower seeds in the shell – one at a time- spitting shells into a cup or soda bottle.
Because most nuts you have to chew (and can put mask up during that time).
I’m responding to Matthews summation and not from watching video – normally I do before commenting.
My biggest issue with most of these type passenger/guest videos – is they almost all are edited or incomplete and only present a partial truth or single side of the story.
But hey in this partisan world both sides cherry pick, take out of context or bury the lede (news) at the very end of articles or story and spend 95% spinning how bad XYZ did or didn’t do something.
I agree, this definitely looks like a setup. I’d love to hear what the crew’s take on the matter was.
The guy can’t even keep his mask on for more then a few moments in the video.
And SW’s was following its policy regarding eating. You can put your mask down momentarily to eat or drink but they expect these instances to be extremely brief. Too many people think they can leisurely eat for a long period of time so they don’t have to wear a mask.
This type of thread is what is ruining America. This type of opinion writing is why Yahoo took off their comment section on all the crap articles they throw out. With the comment section all these opinion pieces get called put for what they are. In one of the videos online, that you conveniently didn’t post for whatever reason, you see another passenger confirming that the gentleman had his mask on until he began to eat and drink. You, Mr. Klint, now want the affected persons to fill your form out and send you their story so you can post it for them. What a joke. If opinion writers, news anchors and reporters would do their research instead of taking a handful of crap and throwing it on canvas they would present a better picture but the days of good journalism and writing are long gone. Sad thing is that 40 to 50% of the people reading an article like this will align with its intent.
This author is a joke and this article is nothing more than political assassination of conservatives . Only mentally unspectacular people would buy your load of horse s*** !
Trump 2020
and then Attica 2021
Many scientific studies have proved that Masks do not prevent viral transmission. The few droplets that they may catch are not responsible for disease spread. Masks have many adverse effects including forcing passengers to breathe 100 times more carbon dioxide & 20% less oxygen, which is exacerbated in a pressurized cabin. Most new patients of CV19 are mask wearers. And does Corona not get exhaled while eating or drinking? So, do you intend to force passengers into dehydration & hypoglycemia by limiting their intake? Or do you want to have them develop staph pneumonia, as commonly seen in those who mask for prolonged periods? Your zero science mask policy is detrimental to our health & discriminatory, as there are many who are unable to mask.
You are all lunatics! What need would he have to make this up? Pay for a ticket just to try and get kicked off? There are anti-Trumpers out there who will do anything and everything to disrupt us Trump supporters. Just like Maxine Waters said for them to do!
You must be new “here”. Pay for a $200 ticket, make a ruckus, Sue or get compensated (potentially thousands of dollars). Profit.
When you’re done [redacted] your pants, you’ll read the package on your face panty and note it says it’s not rated for any medical purpose…such as stopping viruses…which are small enough to get through the isolation suits used for asbestos removal.
How does that jackboot taste? Does it make you erect to follow meaningless orders?
While I do not agree with the event being a ‘stunt’ or a ‘set-up’ I have to give all parties the benefit of the doubt… you know, the premise of innocent until proven guilty that is supposed to a hallmark of being an American… So, let’s assume that this man did not do anything disruptive or against mask policy, after all, he seems very respectful and even agreeable in the video … more respectful than many people I have seen at the gate when the weather (beyond the ticket agent’s control) has delayed the flight… in fact I have seen people get very angry and yell expletives. But, if we give him the leeway to not assign negative intent where we do not actually know, we have to look at the airline employees with the same standard…. that they had no malicious intent… So, most likely we can agree that those of us who were not there do not really know, and should not write articles or spread the story (which I already did) unless we have our own agenda (which I do)… I like the narrative that the left is intolerant, burning down cities, rioting, looting, and racist … because if it makes just one person want to really look into their platform, and then look into the history of that socialist idealism… which sounds good on paper but destroys previously prosperous and free countries … just maybe they too will leave the Democrat plantation and just #walkaway .
@Matthew – would be interesting for you to do a deep dive on the inbound traffic on LALF as of late…where do these white supremacists, overt racists, QAnon conspiracy trolls, MAGA mouth breathers, etc. come from? Why are they here? Are they Russian bots?
They somehow don’t ever comment on the garden variety travel posts…they only come up for air on anything with a political bent.
Regardless, they all hopefully go back underground like the vermin they are come 11/4. Keep pretending it’s 2016 all over again lol.
NYSE: LUV is the stock ticker symbol to Southwest Airlines. In your ranting narrative opinion disguised as “journalism” you state a private company – it is NOT a private company – it is public. And I only stumbled across this no name C list blog because I saw the incident and wanted to see what happened. Of course the media wouldn’t cover it properly. Covid is a hoax. A fraud. It’s a fear tactic to destroy the economy to get rid of Trump. Only 6% (12k people) died of covid. In fact, if you look at the FACTS – the death rate overall is LOWER in 2020 than 2018 and 2019 COMBINED. How do you figure that with this nasty “pandemic” going on? It’s a lie perpetuated by losers like yourself who want welfare from hard working Americans. Get a life.
Publicly traded ≠ government company. My distinction was clearly between government actors versus private actors, whether publicly or privately held. The First Amendment and other protections under the Bill of Rights applies to government actors, not private actors like airlines.
And this is what Democrats do you should probably just stick to telling antifa and black lives matter stories.
If what is said by the passenger in this interview is true, your whole article is a wash…
What do you think about this interview?
https://youtu.be/-iyMT23x7Pk
Already watched this earlier and have an article publishing in the morning on it.
Obviously this was a setup because no black person would support Trump. That’s sarcasm and this article has no substance.
Just like your comment…
Matthew you must be one of those idiot leftist to say this was a publicity stunt… you are so dumb!!
agreed kelly
Whoever wrote this article is very biased from the beginning and is obviously from the far out left, and the racist comments from the crazy leftist followers are no better, I hope that man Sue’s there ass off, it was a politically motivated attack, behavior like this is unexetable southwest airlines should be ashamed of yourselves.
how do we know it is fake i say it could be true how can we take your word
agreed
sorry devise mess up i mean agreed
Here is the thing – I have flown on 5 flights during covid – AA (crammed in like sardines – I counted 12 people who were wishing 3 feet of me) and Delta (did not fill middles seats nicely ) and United from May – August. I hate wearing mask and I def ate lots of snacks and drink lots of water – and NOT ONCE did someone tell me to put my mask back on – that I had had it off too long. NOT ONCE. And that was the height of the pandemic….. So Matthew when I watch this – I call BS that its fake. I think I see a woman helping out a fellow passenger by recording the injustice that is done to him, BTW I am NOT a trump supporter and cant stand him – so this is not about politics – this is about what I know to be true about flying.
You didn’t even watch the whole video. The original one is on YouTube, posted by Mr. Hall’s wife. I spent 5 minutes on my phone with Google and found it. It doesn’t end abruptly at all. It ends with her talking to her friend with the camera pointed at the floor.
I came here hoping to get facts. Yet again I was left reading an opinion piece based on a 3rd party twitter post. Great research, bud. Really put effort into it.
Fake news, buddy. Nice try, though. I shared what publicly available at the time.
how do we know it is fake i say it could be true how can we take your word
I’m not asking you to take my word for it. I’m just telling you my take…that’s what a blog is.
set up. his name is missing. her name is missing. The other guy getting up to leave? oh please.
Is there a reason that the author didn’t deign to seek out and watch a more complete video?
This is all that was provided. Has more been released?
I say it was because of the trump mask for the lady said that she is on twice every week but yet this is the first we have heard of an incident such like this
may i say something matthew i think you are a idiot and was hired to say all this but it was not true
typo was true
You are correct in that this is your take on what happened. This is simply an opinion piece by you influenced by your own personal bias. The left is always accusing the right of conspiracy theories when there is none. I dont even have to guess which side of the political spectrum you are on. You are just like the rest of mainstream fake news. This is not journalism.
YES THE NAZI’S THROUGH A TRUMP 2020 SUPPORTER OFF THE PLANE AND I’M NOT COLOR BLIND EVEN IF I WAS THEY SEE BLACK AND WHITE THIS IS A GREAT BLACK MAN TRYING TO LIVE LIFE AND THERE’S NOT TWO SIDES TO THIS VIDEO AS TWISTED AS THE DEMOCRAPS ARE
Does Southwest serve food or drinks on any of its flights? If so isn’t this many times more dangerous than the lone peanut muncher?
Such sad BS…he was kicked because of his MAGA gear….so STOP. Even the lady sitting behind minding her own business mentioned that he was indeed wearing the mask and put it down to eat. So please shove your Trump Derangement Syndrome ass down and stop making excuses for such retarded actions!
curious what the author’s opinion would be if hypothetically this man were wearing BLM gear.
Would he still be skeptical? Would this article be focused more on racism or discrimination?
Never trust a Californian “journalist” …especially ones with two first names. Take your tinfoil hat off dude, this is blatantly obvious, politically motivated discrimination. #fakenews
Look at all the dump supporters talking about what trump did for blacks . Goes to show how smart they are. Put Obama down all y’all want, but jus like every president they reap whatever the previous president put in place. So all this “he did good for blacks….” Is WRONG! Y’all blame Obama for all the shit Bush put the US in & Obama had to fix it, and begin creating better. Now THE DUMP is in office claiming to do things that he didn’t. I swear y’all dump supporters are the most ignorant. Always wanna blame Dems like a bunch of cry babies. This whole thing was a set up. Jus how convenient this lawyer was to capture all this and then guide him thru the aftermath. Seems like a typical right wing stunt to me.
And this is why our country is in the mess it is in. Lady I would love to hear what you would have had to say if it had been Biden face mask. Programmed communist.
I think this article is a stunt to cover up the prejudice that was shown to this gentleman on SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. This airline should be boycotted to show them that we are not a communist country and just because you don’t like my politics….color of my skin….or religion you cannot show hatred toward us in public or use your job position to demean us. I am sure this article would have a whole different twist on it if the mask had had Biden on it.
Matthew Klint, you’re a biased idiot. Try doing a little research before posting next time. The woman doing the narration was traveling with him. She’s a constitutional attorney and he does photography at the seminars she gives. The man next to the attorney who offered to leave is her husband. In the video another passenger is interviewed who said that the man lowered his mask to eat and drink. And the statement from Southwest Airlines isn’t a vindication of your nonsense, but a CYA. Your conclusion is exactly opposite of what happened. Southwest maybe facing a lawsuit as a result of this incident, unless it settles first. If it does go to court, Southwest will lose.
I don’t think this was any kind of set-up. I just think the lady was sticking up for this guy. I give kudos for the man who agreed to go with him off the plane. I would do that too if it were not imperative that is take that particular flight. Honestly, I smell a lawsuit coming on. The FA has an obligation to answer her question about their policy. He ignored her. Not good.
Except the lady filming turns and asks a complete stranger who corroborates their story/video. So…..
Unless it wasn’t a stranger…
Bruh, if you can take off the mask to eat, what’s the use in wearing it? Does COVID19 automatically become dormant while eating? I’m not even bringing the airline or the guy into this. I’m bringing up the fact that this rule makes no sense. I go to an indoor-only restaurant with a mask on; I take it off for the entire duration of my meal, only putting it back on to go to the restroom or leave. I ask you, where is the logic in this? And no, I am *NOT* an anti-masker! Lol
If it was a publicity stunt, it is only the airline themself to blame.
They are the ones who turned this into a “stunt”. If they hadn’t said anything this would have proceeded smoothly without anything to report.
A joke.
Another point.
You can see in the video the guy right next to him sitting without a mask, for a while, and then puts it on and says “wear your mask”.. seriously??
Wheres them booting him of the plane?
Lastly, if anyones making fun of this guy for eating peanuts, that’s a horrible comment.
Who are you or anyone to tell him what he should or shouldn’t eat?
And to say he should stay hungry?
You’re f+$(+_in nuts here.
Clearly saying it just to support your bias.
You guys are total BS
And the truth will always win.
You can only lie up to a point. Will be exposed ultimately.
Enjoy your trip.
You’re skeptical because the video started late? What is she meant to do…? Start recording to see what happens as soon as he pulls out the bag and starts eating? THAT would be a setup.
The passenger was eating a bag of trailmix while waiting for the plane to take off. You’ve never eaten anything while waiting in all of your hours flying? Impossible…
The passenger says he complied with the mask rules and the flight attendant lied to his supervisor about asking him multiple times to put his mask on. How is he going to lie about that with all of the witnesses around him? No one stood up and said you were asked multiple times sir and you’re being a pain, in fact the opposite happened. A stranger acted as a witness to defend him.
You’re what’s wrong with journalism. We all see what’s going on here, you don’t need to be a genius to figure it out. Whether it was a setup or not (I doubt that it was) doesn’t matter. He complied with mask policies of being able to pull your mask down to eat. I’m from another country and these policies are standard GLOBALLY. You’re just doing what Nancy Pelosi did when she got busted going for a haircut: it was a setup! Even if it was… so what?
There is no one who plays ‘poor-little-picked-on-rich-boy’ better than trump, and misguided followers seem to have taken up this tactic for garnering pity by play-acting as the underdog. This is so obviously staged. Pitiful.