A passenger publicly shamed a United Airlines flight attendant for eating during boarding, calling her a “warthog” and telling her to go on Ozempic. Even if you think crew members should not eat in view of passengers, the assumptions and cruelty here are staggering.
Passenger Publicly Shames United Flight Attendant For Eating During Boarding
A United Airlines flight attendant has become the latest airline employee to be publicly mocked online after a passenger filmed her eating a takeaway meal onboard and posted the video to social media.
The passenger, identified as Chicago-based communications consultant Steve Crescenzo, apparently objected to the uniformed flight attendant eating while seated in a passenger seat during boarding on a flight to United’s Washington Dulles hub.
His language was not exactly restrained.
He called her a “warthog,” mocked the food as “slop,” referred to her meal as a “Pig Trough,” and suggested she “go on Ozempic.” He also complained that passengers were trying to board, stow their belongings, and were already in a bad mood.
That is quite a lot to infer from a crew member eating a meal!
Maybe She Was Working, Maybe She Was Deadheading
Let’s start with the obvious point: I do not know the full context.
If this flight attendant was actively working the flight, sitting in a passenger seat during boarding and eating a meal would not be ideal (or permitted). Flight attendants are there for safety, boarding support, and customer interaction. There are professionalism issues involved, and I understand why a passenger might notice it…
But that is a very big if.
She may have been off-duty, deadheading, or traveling as a passenger between assignments. She may have had a very short connection and she may not have eaten all day and was heading into another duty period with no realistic opportunity to grab food later.
In other words, the assumptions here over-the-top.
A uniform does not automatically mean a crew member is working your flight. Deadheading crew members often travel in uniform. They may sit in passenger seats. They may have bags. They may look like they are “on,” even when they are not part of the operating crew.
That distinction matters.
The Language Was The Problem
It’s not nice to call someone a pig. Calling someone something online that you would not say to their face is usually a good sign you should not say it at all.
While I am sure I have written things over the years that I would word differently today, I’m not a fan of the unhinged language of this era in USA (and this loser is a huge anti-Trumper if you check his social media, so isn’t a backhanded dig at Trump alone).
If this passenger wanted to make a point, he could have done so without cruelty. He could have written that he found it unprofessional for a uniformed crew member to eat a strong-smelling meal during boarding or asked whether United permits working crew to eat in passenger seats during boarding. If it bothered him so much, he could have sent the video to United with a concise note and asked for clarification.
Instead, he chose public humiliation.
Thus, the issue is no longer merely whether the flight attendant should have been eating there. Instead, the issue becomes why a grown adult thought it was acceptable to photograph or film a woman, ridicule her body, mock her food, and broadcast it for sport.
He says it is for accountability. No, it is bullying…and he’s not so slim himself.
He’s Still Digging In!
While Crescenzo has deleted his original post, he has posted an update that “apologizes” (a Latin word meaning to defend that we serially misuse in the English language) for those who were offended (i.e. no remote at all).
Well, I certainly want to apologize to anyone I offended with my post about the woman eating on the plane yesterday! I had no idea the passion it would cause!
For years on Facebook, I have vented about things that irritate me while traveling . . . which is just about everything.
I am not as funny as Larry David, but I get irritated as easily.But making fun of someone eating, even if it WAS during the boarding process and not while we were in the air, with our trays down, was rude.
One has to be more more careful these days. I will save my venting for the violent seat recliners, the gas passers, the toenail clippers, the people who stand in my personal space the minute the plane lands, the people who play their music without headphones, and the people who talk so loudly on their cell phones that everyone on the plane can hear them.
Eating is off limits. Sorry about that.
For the record, I didn’t know she was a flight attendant!! That’s what most people seem to be upset about!
But she was sitting in a regular aisle seat and didn’t have her jacket on!
Too little, too late buddy. Some are trying to cancel him, which also may go too far, but I hope he learned something from this.
CONCLUSION
A passenger filmed a United Airlines flight attendant eating during boarding and posted the video online, calling her a “warthog” and telling her to go on Ozempic.
Maybe United should remind working crew members not to eat in passenger seats during active boarding. But we do not know whether this flight attendant was working, deadheading, or simply trying to eat during a narrow window between assignments.
What we do know is that the passenger’s language was cruel and wildly unnecessary.
If something bothers you onboard, document it if you must. Send it to the airline if you think it matters. But publicly mocking someone’s body, food, and dignity over something like this is a very ugly look.
What do you think about this incident?
I am guessing he is a New Yorker by the verbage in his comments. From the looks of him, he could probably benefit from Ozempic himself. I look forward to the full story being posted.
Nah, if we’re just wildly speculating and defaming and entire state/region, clearly he’s from wherever you are…
He probably is on Ozempic already. It affects ones appetite to the degree that some food makes you nauseus.
what about when a passenegr makes an honest mistake, like covid mask being off, using a cell phone too late etc. the airline calls down the airport police to have them forcibly removed for being a safety risk?
safety risks are only allowed by flight attendants not passengers
Can’t we all just get along. No. Not in this miserable world. #Faith
This is why I coach new-hire FAs to keep the galley curtain closed and don’t do a damn thing in front of passengers besides smile. Passengers are nosy, constantly trying to interject, and will take advantage of ANY situation to record & post – even down to something as innocuous as eating or drinking water.
It’s bad enough that passengers decide that our personal workspace, the galley, is the preferred spot for their nonsense yoga, squatting and stretching their behinds in our face while we’re trying to grab 90 seconds to scarf up lunch while they WATCH US EAT as if we’re zoo animals, but yeah, they even need to record FAs eating, too.
This FA was not working, it’s so obvious, but again – the typical passenger doesn’t even know how to open a bathroom door on the plane, why would they have the common sense to figure that said FA is not working? Not sure what safety risk tom bradley is referring to – having a tray table down & eating before pushback is not a safety violation.
The job would be so great if not for the talking-cargo.
“Talking cargo.”
Ha ha ha ha. That almost makes this whole ordeal of losing clients and getting doxxed and death threats worth it.
That is FUNNY!!!!
Thanks for a much-needed laugh.
Steve
You should never receive death threats, your clients however should reevaluate their professional alliance.
This is one of the best examples of projection I’ve seen.
Not only is he a creep, he’s also 50% overweight, and shouldn’t be comparing anyone to a warthog because he ain’t no oil painting. Just another fat, boorish slob with no manners.
People who throw accusations and make derogatory statements about Another’s physical appearance have an internal war going on with themselves. Low self esteem and being unhappy with themselves consume them and the only way they can make themselves feel better is by exposing their poor behavior. Sad really. Very very sad
Hey, Mathew.
Steve Crescenzo here, the Warthog who wrote the stupid, misguided post about the United flight attendant. For what it’s worth, I did learn a valuable lesson. (Also for what it’s worth, I am NOT a New Yorker!!!)
But I am NOT digging in! Here is the apology I posted on the flight attendant site you referenced. I hope people can show me a little grace for what was a serious lapse in judgment:
This is final word on my idiotic, misguided, rude and mean post. I don’t expect to sway anyone, because I was wrong, pure and simple.
For years, I had a blog where I would complain about things that irritated me while traveling. Then I switched the posts to Facebook. I used to travel once a week, so there was no shortage of things to get irritated about.
One of them is when people bring their own food, which often smells up the entire cabin.
Another is when people eat said food while people are boarding and trying to get situated.
So I wrote a very stupid, mean-spirited post about a woman I saw doing just that. But here is the context, for whatever it is worth:
1. I had no idea she was a flight attendant. She was sitting in a normal seat, and I could not see any uniform (or any part of her body). I love and respect flight attendants. I have stood up for many of them when a passenger was mistreating them. Had I known, I would not have written the stupid post, as I know flight attendants have very hard jobs, and should be allowed to eat wherever, whenever, whatever they want.
2. I did not say the woman looked like a warthog. I could barely see her face. But she was eating very quickly, and in a VERY misguided attempt at humor, I said she was EATING like a warthog. I would never make fun of someone’s appearance. I mean look at me. I look like Uncle Fester.
3. The reference to Ozempic is being taken out of context. I didn’t say she should go on the drug because she was overweight. I have no idea what she even looks like. From my vantage point, I couldn’t even see her body. I did say that, if she was THAT hungry that she coudn’t wait 20 minutes until we were in the air, maybe she needed Ozempic to curb her appetite. Again, bad joke. But at the time, I couldn’t figure out why someone wouldn’t wait until we were in the air, they could put their tray down, and eat in a more comfortable fashion.
4. I am on Ozempic. I would never shame someone for being on it. Or body shame anyone for any reason.
5. It was a stupid, mean-spirited post. Cruel humor, which is normally not my style. If anyone knows the person in question, I am happy to call her and apologize in person.
That is all. I appreciate the work flight attendants do, and I am truly sorry for the post.
Sorry Steve, we’re not buyin it. As others have pointed out you’re working on your own warthog trim and not doing anything about it,except possibly taking Ozempic.
Steve I suggest you reference IABC Code of Conduct, specifically Unacceptable behavior; Participants should refrain from bullying, demeaning, discriminatory, harassing or other inappropriate behavior. Examples of harassing and inappropriate behavior may include, but are not limited to:
• Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise discriminatory jokes or language.
• Physical intimidation, stalking or following.
• Verbal abuse.
Perhaps General Motors, Mayo Clinic, Target, and McDonalds should be made aware of your vile tendencies. Your “spur-of-the-moment” meltdowns, your lack of personal control. You spontaneously demeaned a female passenger who was enthusiastically eating. you were mean-spirited referring to her meal as a “pig trough,” comparing her to a “warthog,” and suggesting she should take Ozempic. You also encouraged thousands of followers to ridicule her. As someone whose profession is built around effective communication, leadership, and respect in the workplace I find your conduct especially troubling given your profession.
Your apology rings hollow and seems like clean up on aisle 5. I find the irony stunning especially considering the line of business you are in. Perhaps you are a bit concerned about future flights. The flight attendant corps is a tight group and your comments have circled the wagons.
My very first thought was, THAT GUY had the audacity to body shame a complete stranger? You had no clue what the situation was. Eating is not a crime. Her body is NOT YOUR PROPERTY. Filming her without her consent and putting it on display to humiliate and shame her was abuse and harassment. Shame on you.
And often the person doing the name calling of someone fat is also fat. If you are going to call someone a name maybe try something else.
People are just full of hatred and there is very little accountability. You see that with how often these people get away with abuse of passengers or employees and the punishment is either nothing or something minor in the vast majority of cases.
Hey, Matthew: Are you going to post my heartfelt apology for my mean, misguided post? I left it in another comment. I think it’s only fair that people see it, even if it doesn’t do any good.
Steve, the important thing is you apologized. Looking for approbation here is pissing in the wind. A VERY strong wind…
Thanks, Johannes. I will keep apologizing. Matt didn’t do me any favors with that click bait headline. The warthog and Ozempic thing is WAY out of context. I mean, the post was over the top and mean-spirited. But I never fat shamed anyone. I am on Ozempic. Why would I do that?
he says he’s christian his name is mathew didnt jesus, thiomas or some other moron say something about forgiveness
and giving people another chance?
Having been one, I almost always side with the crew….However, regardless of whether she was deadheading, working a trip or whatever, she was in fact in uniform and this was not a good look. Even consuming discretely in the rear galley might raise an eyebrow but a better place for this activity.
SHE WAS NOT ON DUTY! Leave FAs alone.
If she’s a warthog, hes a hippopotamus
So, would you hire this communications consultant? I can’t imagine this speaks well for his professionalism.
This idiot’s (Steve’s) comments could easily have been written by Dear MAGA Leader. Correction, identical comments have been written MANY times by the lying corrupt grifter-in-chief. Of course it’s all hypocrisy and projection and self-owns, without all that they’d have nothing to write (other than lies). But the MOST pathetic aspect of all this is how many people support and defend the fat orange cheeto for the EXACT same behavior.
Steve the Warthog Uncle Fester (clearly the only truthful thing you’ve written), the simple FACT that you would ever write anything even close to the original comments speaks way more about your character and personality than 1000 apologies. Nice considerate people with integrity don’t ever have to write that sort of apology, they’d never write anything close to the original comments to begin with.
Unbelievable that this needs to be explained to an adult, but EVERYONE gets irritated by lots of things EVERY day. No one cares what YOU are irritated about, they’re all as narcissistic as you are and only concerned with what they’re irritated about. Grow up, accept it or become a billionaire and then eliminate or avoid all the things that irritate you and spend your time irritating others.
Check his social media, he hates MAGA. Might I suggest thus means something?
I only have one chin but once I had more. I’ve never begrudged anyone the right to sustenance — and before the fentanyl outbreak reguarly gave my 2fer 2nd burger to median-life. To call out the FA for eating and the words this Chiacgo-Entitled-Rabid-Cockroach used is abhorrent.
Not to worry. Karma is a bitch. One day one of us liveandletsfly or omaat or tpg readers will meet Fat-Chiago-Loser. Give him my “love” . Great things have come from Chicago, and this is just whiskey tango.
Okay, he apologized and explained and vows not to repeat. Your reactions are rivaling the first impressions of his gaffe and putting you into the same category.
I briefly interacted with Steve when a former boss hired him for a comms project, so I’ll offer this from that limited vantage point. Every additional comment he leaves, here, on LinkedIn, and elsewhere, makes the apology look less like remorse and more like client retention. That’s the tell. Someone who is genuinely sorry apologizes meaningfully once and goes quiet. The original apology wasn’t that. It was full of deflection and false humor: sorry to “anyone I offended,” a Larry David comparison, “one has to be more careful these days,” and then a comedy routine about the seat recliners and toenail clippers he’ll vent about next. That’s not remorse, it’s a bit. A communications consultant worried about his book of business keeps showing up across platforms, workshopping the narrative, and yukking it up in the comments to prove he’s still likeable. Steve, if you’re reading this: not all publicity is good publicity. The best move available to you, professionally and personally, is to stop talking.