Plus-size model and body positive advocate Natalie Hage of Texas was put to the test Friday when she came face to face with a criticizing passenger on an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles.
Hage, 30, had paid around $70 for extra leg room, but upon boarding the flight, only found middle seats remaining. When she took her seat, the welcome she received from the man to her left was not very friendly. Hage says she could tell the man was bothered, and was making obvious notions such as jerkily arranging himself in his seat.
Then she noticed him putting his phone between his knees, and when she glanced down, she saw a stream of derogatory comments that the man didn't even seem to be trying to hide.
"Hopefully she didn't have any Mexican food," said whoever was on the other end of the text message, in a recollection posted by Hage on Instagram.
"I think she ate a Mexican," the man had responded, later adding, "If the news reports a DFW Airbus A321 leaving the runway without rotating, that would be my flight."
Hage addressed the man at the end of the flight, so as not to cause a disturbance and allow for a quick exit if necessary. She filmed the interaction and posted it to Facebook, where it now has more than 1.2 million views. You can see the interaction, here:
The passenger first denied the comments, but later apologized and offered to buy Hage dinner.