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A plus-sized influencer staged a protest over what she described as “blatant discrimination” against “fat travelers.”
Jaelynn Chaney, 28, accused the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport of “violating” people’s rights after she was denied wheelchair assistance.
“SeaTac violates our rights. #WheelchairAccessForAll,” screamed a sign she held up in the middle of the airport.
Highlights
- Jaelynn Chaney protested over what she said was “blatant discrimination” against “fat travelers.”
- The plus-size influencer claimed the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport denied her wheelchair assistance over her “body size.”
- “I’m not alone—this has happened to other fat travelers, too,” she said on social media.
- She claimed she nearly fainted the last time an airport staffer refused to push her wheelchair.
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Jaelynn Chaney staged a protest over what she described as “blatant discrimination” against “fat travelers”
Image credits: jaebaeproductions/Instagram
The content creator with 140.2K followers on TikTok said she was denied wheelchair assistance because of her “body size.”
“I’m not alone—this has happened to other fat travelers, too. When I spoke up, people told me it was because I could ‘injure the staff’ just by existing,” she wrote in the caption of her TikTok video. “That’s blatant discrimination.”
Image credits: jaebaeofficial/TikTok
She went on to say that SeaTac should have a “written policy stating their discrimination outright” if they refuse to “assist fat people.”
“But instead, they lie, deny services, and leave disabled fat travelers stranded,” she added. “This is unacceptable, and I will not stay silent.”
“SeaTac denies wheelchair assistance to fat people—THIS IS DISCRIMINATION,” read the text over a viral video
Image credits: jaebaeofficial/TikTok
The plus-size blogger urged others to speak up if they have had similar experiences.
“Use your voice. If you’re scared, tell me and I’ll speak up for you,” she continued. “I’ll use this platform I’m grateful to have to uplift you and amplify your voice.”
Most netizens weren’t too sympathetic about her situation.
“Why should someone risk physical injury to push you?” one social media user asked
View this post on Instagram
“I don’t understand?!?! I looked at her profile, she can walk!!!” one commenter said, while another wrote, “Being fat isn’t an identity or a disability.”
“There are so many horrible things happening right now and you choose to fight for your right to be a fat lazy drain on society,” one said.
“Get yourself an electronic wheelchair and push yourself,” one suggested
Image credits: jaebaeproductions/Instagram
“Wheelchairs are for disabled people. Not able bodied people eating themselves into the grave. I wouldn’t risk my back to push you,” another wrote.
“So you’re really expecting the average person to be able to push your entire body weight, when you can’t even walk or get yourself around due to your body weight???” asked another.
Image credits: jaebaeproductions/Instagram
Others expressed support, with one saying, “Some of these comments bashing her is just outright awful! … Do better people!”
“Overweight people are still people and they need help too,” said another.
The plus-size activist said she nearly “fainted” the last time a SeaTac employee refused to push her wheelchair
Image credits: jaebaeproductions/Instagram
This isn’t the first time Jaelynn said she was denied wheelchair assistance at SeaTac.
Last year, she went viral after posting a video accusing an airport staffer of refusing to push her wheelchair.
Image credits: jaebaeproductions/Instagram
“She started to walk away with the wheelchair while making comments about my size,” she told the audience.
“Even when I told her I really needed the chair and needed her to let me sit down in it, she blatantly ignored me and kept walking.”
“This is discrimination, nobody should be treated this way,” Jaelynn said
View this post on Instagram
The plus-sized influencer said she was forced to walk up “one of the longest jet bridges” she’s ever encountered and nearly fainted because of it.
“This is discrimination, nobody should be treated this way,” she added.
Image credits: jaebaeofficial/TikTok
In her previous viral videos, Jaelynn has asked airlines to offer free extra tickets to plus-size fliers as part of her fight for “fat liberation.”
The plus-size activist clapped back at critics for comparing her body to luggage and demanding she pay extra to fly.
She also said it was “dehumanizing” to see netizens condemn her for saying airlines should give free extra tickets to plus-size fliers.
The content creator believes airlines should offer free extra tickets to plus-size fliers
View this post on Instagram
Jaelynn started a petition demanding the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to “protect plus-size travelers.”
The petition has more than 39,621 signatures so far and demands “accessible additional seats to customers-of-size,” a “refund for customers-of-size who purchase additional seats independently,” and more.
In recent months, there has been widespread speculation about Jaelynn being arrested for assault
Over the last couple of months, there has been widespread speculation about Jaelynn’s arrest.
YouTuber Fit ‘n’ Full Fat shared a video in March, in which she claimed Jaelynn faced a total of six charges, including assault and resisting charges.
Some of the charges against Jaelynn were subsequently dropped, the YouTuber said.
Netizens had mixed reactions to Jaelynn’s latest protest in the middle of the airport
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What do you think ?
Anton 7 months ago
My body is not the problem, the system is? Well girl... your body is the problem, im sorry. But even more.. your mentallity is the biggest problem..
LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago
I have a lot of morbidly obese family members. Many have died from complications of obesity (diabetes, kidney failure, gangrene, etc.) and some have died very young or have had limbs amputated. And not a SINGLE ONE of my family members ever demanded to be pushed around in a wheelchair. My obese uncle uses one of those walker-things that you can sit down on when you get tired, but he also has fairly advanced Parkinson's. Despite being morbidly obese, he retains enough dignity and pride to remain as mobile as possible. This woman is obviously infantilizing herself (after a fashion) and making herself out to be far more helpless than she actually is. Interesting that she can stand and walk when she wants to (her Instagram has videos of her walking around hotels just fine and even pulling a rolling suitcase.)
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Skogsrået 7 months ago
I am all for equal rights but i would NOT want to be the person pushing her in a wheel chair and therefor can hardly expect anyone else to do it. Do you know the kind of damage you can get by pushing an obese person in a wheelchair up a ramp? Why is she fighting for her right to remain obese when she obviously can't handle her everyday life or travel without the help of others? This all seems insane to me.
Boo 7 months ago (edited)
I agree. I wouldn't push her either. I don't have a lot of upper body strength and my back would be destroyed if I tried. They have health and safety rules for a reason. It's the same reason why nurses/care staff use hoists when lifting patients out of their beds.
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Anton 7 months ago
My body is not the problem, the system is? Well girl... your body is the problem, im sorry. But even more.. your mentallity is the biggest problem..
LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago
I have a lot of morbidly obese family members. Many have died from complications of obesity (diabetes, kidney failure, gangrene, etc.) and some have died very young or have had limbs amputated. And not a SINGLE ONE of my family members ever demanded to be pushed around in a wheelchair. My obese uncle uses one of those walker-things that you can sit down on when you get tired, but he also has fairly advanced Parkinson's. Despite being morbidly obese, he retains enough dignity and pride to remain as mobile as possible. This woman is obviously infantilizing herself (after a fashion) and making herself out to be far more helpless than she actually is. Interesting that she can stand and walk when she wants to (her Instagram has videos of her walking around hotels just fine and even pulling a rolling suitcase.)
Load More Replies... Skogsrået 7 months ago
I am all for equal rights but i would NOT want to be the person pushing her in a wheel chair and therefor can hardly expect anyone else to do it. Do you know the kind of damage you can get by pushing an obese person in a wheelchair up a ramp? Why is she fighting for her right to remain obese when she obviously can't handle her everyday life or travel without the help of others? This all seems insane to me.
Boo 7 months ago (edited)
I agree. I wouldn't push her either. I don't have a lot of upper body strength and my back would be destroyed if I tried. They have health and safety rules for a reason. It's the same reason why nurses/care staff use hoists when lifting patients out of their beds.
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