Woman Cries On Delta Flight After Spotting Seatmate’s Cruel Text About Her Body

A Delta Airlines passenger sat “frozen” in her seat after catching a glimpse of her seatmate’s text message.

The TikToker named Vanessa hopped on the flight from Tampa to New York City, looking forward to returning home to her kids.

But the text message ruined her mood and left her sobbing for most of the trip.

Vanessa sat “frozen” in her seat after catching a glimpse of her seatmate’s text message on a Delta Airlines flight

Commercial airplane approaching for landing under clear blue sky, related to woman breaking down in tears on flight.

Image credits: John McArthur

After having a wonderful weekend, Vanessa was eagerly waiting to return home when she stepped onto the aircraft.

But her seatmate rained on her parade shortly after she boarded.

“I boarded the plane, and as I approached my row, I made eye contact with the man in the window seat of my row,” she told The Mary Sue via email.

Woman wearing glasses outdoors in a city setting, reflecting on emotional experience related to body-shaming on flight.

Image credits: soberspouse

“I could see the man in the window, visibly sigh and roll his eyes,” she added. “That is immediately when my radar went up.”

Within moments of settling into her seat, Vanessa laid eyes on the text message.

“As soon as I sat, I just glanced over, and I saw it. It was right there in front of my face, and after he had to hit send, he sent a series of empty texts to essentially push what he had written off the view of his screen,” she told the outlet.

The passenger was looking forward to returning home to her kids when the text message ruined her mood

Passengers seated on a flight with focus on airplane seats and safety cards during in-flight moments.

Image credits: Oxana Melis

The distraught woman then shared a video of the message with her TikTok followers.

“We’ve taken off, and I can’t stop crying. The man next to me sends one text, ‘urgh HUGE woman sat next to me’ – I saw [because] I have eyes, and now I feel like a prisoner for the next [two] hours,” she wrote in the video.

Hoping to get a boost of positivity from her nearly 5,000-strong followers, she added: “Be kind. If you’re feeling so inclined, can you send me some love? I’ve lost 60+ lbs and have actually been feeling really good about myself.”

Woman with glasses holding drink, reacting emotionally after catching glimpse of seatmate's body-shaming text on flight.

Image credits: soberspouse

Screenshot of a social media comment revealing body-shaming text that upset a woman on a flight.

Vanessa said in her The Mary Sue interview that she didn’t want to cause a scene and said nothing to her fellow passenger.

“I was frozen,” she said. “What this man didn’t know is that I’ve lost 60 pounds in the past year, and I was finally feeling like I could maybe sit in a middle seat.”

“I didn’t wanna say anything because I really needed to get home to my kids, and I was afraid that if I started this conversation with him, I would be asked to leave the plane,” she continued.

“We’ve taken off, and I can’t stop crying,” she wrote in her TikTok video

Close-up of woman wearing glasses on flight, visibly upset after catching seatmate’s body-shaming text message.

Image credits: soberspouse

Comment expressing discomfort about reading others' texts and urging respect for privacy on phones.

Comment from a flight attendant advising passengers on handling uncomfortable situations and reporting body-shaming incidents on flights.

As she stayed put in her seat, she took a few deep breaths and decided to share the incident on TikTok to find some relief.

“I remember thinking I wish I could tell the flight attendant, but I didn’t even wanna get up or move,” she added.

She struggled to shake off her feelings and sobbed in her seat.

Passenger sitting inside airplane cabin looking at phone, highlighting a flight moment connected to body-shaming text incident.

Image credits: Tahir osman

Comment on social media reading he said it on private phone and didn’t do anything wrong in a body-shaming flight incident discussion.

Comment praising weight loss and encouraging self-confidence, related to body-shaming and emotional distress on flight.

“Frankly, the rest of the flight was awful. I cried for most of it, but tried to keep my composure so many thoughts run through your head, but all I wanted to do is get home to my family,” she told the outlet. “There was just this fear of continued judgment.”

Her video, meanwhile, was racking up views and received a flood of comments.

“Send one that he can see- dude next to me stinks so bad,” read one comment.

“I would try to muster every fart my body is capable of,” a second comment said.

Netizens offered plenty of witty suggestions on what to do in such a situation

Woman crying on flight after reading seatmate's body-shaming text, highlighting impact of weight discrimination and kindness needed.

Image credits: soberspouse

Comment expressing sympathy after a woman breaks down in tears on flight due to seatmate's body-shaming text.

Screenshot of a social media comment about making someone uncomfortable, related to woman breaking down in tears on flight body-shaming incident.

A third wrote, “Yea, as a man, trust me he was texting his mom who he still lives with.”

“You lost 60 lbs?!? CONGRATULATIONS! That clearly took a lot of effort from you… Don’t let the jerk derail you as you are on a JOURNEY!” a fourth said.

Woman with glasses holding a mug, illustrating emotions related to body-shaming on flight seatmate caught in text.

Image credits: soberspouse

One commenter said they worked as a flight attendant and wrote, “If something like that ever happens again, please let us know.”

“There are certain scenarios when we may not be able to move you, due to being a full flight,” they continued. “But never hesitate to tell one of us. If you don’t feel comfortable telling us, write it in your notes app and hand us your phone!”

Vanessa’s video garnered 1.8 million views and a countless measure of positivity

@soberspouse♬ original sound – Vanessa | Lifestyle & TTS

After landing in New York City, Vanessa was greeted with a lot of positivity and support from the online community.

With 1.8 million views on her video so far, Vanessa said she struck up conversations with people through her video and was glad to know that many found inspiration in her story.

“They’ve been reminded that you never know what someone else is going through [and] a little kindness can go [a long] way,” she added.

“The way I would make his entire flight so miserable thought,” one commented online

Screenshot of a social media comment criticizing manspreading regarding the amount of space taken on a flight.

Social media comment showing support after woman breaks down in tears on flight due to body-shaming text from seatmate.

Comment on social media including text about spilling a drink and turbulence, related to body-shaming on flight.

Comment on social media from user elizabethkinghuck expressing disappointment about a flight after witnessing body-shaming text on plane.

Comment expressing sympathy for woman who broke down in tears on flight after reading body-shaming text from seatmate.

Comment by Jennifer Nelson saying say something you shouldn’t be embarrassed he should in response to body-shaming text on flight.

Comment expressing sympathy with text saying that something is hurtful and an apology, accompanied by a sad face emoji.

Comment expressing sympathy after woman breaks down in tears on flight due to seatmate’s body-shaming text incident.

Screenshot of a social media comment showing support after woman breaks down in tears on flight over body-shaming text.

Comment on social media praising 60 lbs weight loss with encouragement for self discipline and consistency.

Screenshot of a social media comment reacting to a woman breaking down in tears on flight after body-shaming text was seen.

Tweet by Kelso discussing the challenges of flying as a larger woman and dealing with small airplane seats.

Screenshot of a social media comment expressing sympathy after woman breaks down in tears on flight over seatmate’s body-shaming text.

Comment advising to alert flight attendant after witnessing body-shaming text causing woman to break down in tears on flight.

Comment on social media expressing support against body-shaming and addressing insecurities in a text conversation.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing a man's texting habits, related to body-shaming on a flight.

Social media comment discussing privacy and emotional reaction after reading seatmate's body-shaming text on flight.

Comment expressing sympathy after woman breaks down in tears on flight over seatmate's body-shaming text message.

Comment on social media reading You looked at his phone screen, advising to stop and congratulating progress with 116 likes.

Comment on social media about a flight incident involving body-shaming and a seatmate upsetting a woman.

Comment from Alexandra questioning privacy invasion and phone use, discussing rude behavior as a valid issue, with 197 likes.

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