Ex-Vogue Editor Claims She Left First Class Cabin Full Of “White Middle Aged Men” Over Micro-Aggression

Former Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson said she self-downgraded from first class during a flight to Italy after facing “micro-aggressions” from a male flight attendant.

Karefa-Johnson, who has styled Kamala Harris and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, wrote on Threads that she “downgraded myself to business class” on a flight to Milan for Fashion Week.

“In a cabin of 6, 5 of the passengers were white middle-aged men… then there was me, a 30-something black woman who travels in that cabin often,” she wrote on Wednesday (February 24).

Woman at The 2025 Innovator Awards wearing a leather jacket and gold dress, representing ex-Vogue editor and micro-aggression claims.

Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, a former fashion editor at Vogue, shared a “gross” experience she had on a flight to Milan

Image credits: John Nacion/Variety/Getty Images

She noted that there was “a male flight attendant who thought I’d be okay with substandard service and persistent micro-aggression from the moment I sat down. He was…wrong.”

Karefa-Johnson explained that she chose to “sacrifice physical comfort to protect my emotional and mental well-being.”

The fashion editor did not share details about the alleged micro-aggressions or the airline she flew with.

Ex-Vogue editor posing on Paris balcony near Eiffel Tower, reflecting on micro-aggression in first class cabin incident.

Image credits: gabriellak_j/Instagram

Her post quickly gained traction on social media, with many Thread users voicing support for her and lamenting that she faced discriminatory behavior.

“I’m sorry you had to do that-you deserve to be anywhere and everywhere. They belong in economy,” one supporter wrote.

“Hard agree!” Karefa-Johnson replied. “It’s just such a bummer that humiliation is part of gratification for racists. Protecting my peace felt like letting him win and I hate that.”

Karefa-Johnson claimed she experienced “persistent micro-aggression” from a male flight attendant in a cabin full of “white middle-aged men”

Tweet from ex-Vogue editor sharing experience of leaving first class cabin full of white middle aged men due to micro-aggression.

Image credits: gabriellak_j/Threads

Another user advised Karefa-Johnson to complain to the airline. “My husband is a captain for a major airline. He works really hard to treat the cabin crew with respect and dignity because they deserve it and so does every single human aboard that aircraft.”

“Micro-aggressions in 2026 have no valid excuses,” added a third.

“For a certain kind of person, it’s not as fun to have luxuries if they don’t see other people being excluded,” commented another.

Tweet by user Chhaila responding to a discussion about a Vogue editor leaving a first class cabin over micro-aggression.

Image credits: thatchhaila

Tweet by Governor of The Bank of Dimland commenting on first class cabin experience involving white middle aged men and micro-aggression.

Image credits: AndrewB95142494

First class airplane cabin seats in a luxury jet, highlighting the exclusion of white middle aged men amid micro-aggression claims.

Image credits: American Airlines Newsroom (Not the actual photo)

Meanwhile, on X, many people were critical of her comments, particularly mocking her complaint about “substandard service” in a business-class cabin.

“The microaggression: ‘Would you like a glass of champagne, madam?’” wrote the satirical newspaper The Sunday Sport.

“The antithesis of Rosa Parks,” added someone else, referring to the Black civil rights activist who refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal protest against racism in the United States.

“Ah yes. The self-downgrade,” another user quipped.

Young woman posing with hands near face, wearing denim top and jewelry, representing ex-Vogue editor's micro-aggression story.

“Maybe the attendant was having a bad day, but it feels so gross,” she shared on Threads

Image credits: gabriellak_j/Instagram

In the comments, Karefa-Johnson shared her plans to file a formal complaint with the airline, which she said she had been flying with for twenty years.

She also said she had complained about the negative experience during the flight, and that both the pilot and purser “came back to business to apologize.”

“Maybe the attendant was just having a bad day but it feels so gross,” she added.

Tweet by user wacka dakka commenting on a first class cabin experience referring to a quiet flight atmosphere.

Image credits: WackaDakka

Screenshot of a tweet replying to a sports account, referencing an ex-Vogue editor leaving a first class cabin over micro-aggression.

Image credits: Ryanpshill

In response to someone’s suggestion that she should have requested another flight attendant, Karefa-Johnson said she considered the option, “but the vibe was spoiled instantly and I just wasn’t comfortable.”

Additionally, she said the airline told her they would refund the price difference between the two cabins.

Karefa-Johnson, who left Vogue in 2023 due to political differences with media company Conde Nast, was the first Black woman to style a cover for the prestigious fashion magazine in 2021.

The fashion editor said she would complain to the airline over the incident, which prompted an apology from the pilot

Social media exchange about ex-Vogue editor leaving first class cabin due to micro-aggression involving middle aged men.

Image credits: gabriellak_j/Threads

During her time at Vogue, she worked on the cover featuring the then-Vice President Kamala Harris in a blazer, jeans, and a pair of Converse— a photograph that was heavily criticized, with the fashion editor being accused of “lazy” art direction and “disrespecting” the politician with the casual outfit.

Karefa-Johnson told The Business of Fashion podcast in 2023 that Harris’ photograph was taken in just 25 minutes, because that was all the time Harris had for the day.

In 2022, the 35-year-old editor was involved in a social media feud with Kanye West after the disgraced rapper launched a “White Lives Matter” clothing line.

She called out the Grammy winner for his “deeply offensive, violent, and dangerous” message.

American Airlines airplane in flight, illustrating context of ex-Vogue editor leaving first class cabin over micro-aggression claims.

Image credits: Forsaken Films/Unsplash (Not the actual photo)

In response, Kanye ridiculed her outfits by posting a photo of her on Instagram and writing, “This is not a fashion person. You speak on Ye Ima speak on you.”

Karefa-Johnson said she received many body-shaming comments online following her feud with the high-public figure.

“I’ve fielded some serious volatility over the last couple days but nothing has been quite as bad as what people have said about my body and the way I look. The fat phobia JUMPED out,” she wrote. “Yes, I am fat. No, I am not humiliated to show up as my authentic self in the world.”

Comment by g.rasdottir discussing feeling excluded by white middle aged men in a first class cabin over micro-aggression.

“Very telling that both the pilot and purser apologized,” one netizen noted

Tweet from user itsmorganashley about micro-aggressions and criticism of refusal to grow up, referencing 2026 discussions.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing an ex-Vogue editor leaving a first class cabin due to micro-aggression claims.

Comment on social media expressing support for ex-Vogue editor leaving first class cabin over micro-aggression incident.

Comment text on white background by user hello.monkey87 expressing hope for a refund of the price difference.

Commenter shares experience of leaving a first class cabin due to micro-aggression among white middle aged men.

Social media comment discussing a first class flight experience related to micro-aggression and white middle aged men.

Comment about airline complaint and cabin crew respect related to ex-Vogue editor cabin micro-aggression incident.

Screenshot of a social media post commenting on an ex-Vogue editor leaving a first class cabin due to micro-aggression.

Image credits: Fred34215511

Tweet screenshot discussing a micro-aggression incident involving an ex-Vogue editor and first class cabin passengers.

Image credits: cyranosky1001

Screenshot of a tweet criticizing privilege in response to ex-Vogue editor’s claim about first class micro-aggression incident.

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Tweet from Bugsy Malone criticizing incident involving ex-Vogue editor leaving first class cabin over micro-aggression claims.

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Tweet by user Lady Olga de Polga calling someone a professional victim, shown on a smartphone screen with timestamp and engagement icons.

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Screenshot of a tweet discussing micro-aggression in a first class cabin with white middle aged men, dated February 26, 2026.

Image credits: SANB13573113

Tweet discussing first class cabin experience involving white middle aged men and micro-aggression on social media platform.

Image credits: ppennell63

Tweet from Sunday Sport describing a micro-aggression involving a glass of champagne in a first class cabin context.

Image credits: thesundaysport

Tweet discussing experience flying business class, responding to claims about micro-aggression in first class cabin.

Image credits: PeteRieck

Screenshot of a Twitter reply commenting on micro-aggression claims by ex-Vogue editor in first class cabin incident.

Image credits: DavidSn04250275

Screenshot of tweet criticizing accusations about ex-Vogue editor leaving first class cabin over micro-aggression incident.

Image credits: SazuBurns

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