In an unfortunate incident aboard a flight from Oklahoma to Chicago on Monday, Savannah Phillips found herself next to an elderly man she later described as being in his 60s, wearing yellow sunglasses and claiming to be a comedian. Little did she know that this encounter would soon turn into a harrowing experience that would highlight the unkindness that can exist in the world.
Savannah Phillips, who shared her harrowing encounter on her Facebook page, described how the man’s behavior was hurtful. “As soon as I buckled up, he sat down… His phone was almost 12 inches from my face and then he texted someone that he was sitting next to ‘stinky fat,'” she shared. The words she read on the screen felt like a punch to the gut, confirming the negative self-image she was struggling with.
She wrote: “I don’t even know what the rest of his text said.” I turned my head as fast as I could. I was amazed and it felt like confirmation of the negative things I normally believe about myself. Before I knew it, hot salty tears began to run down my cheeks.
According to Phillips, who spoke to NewsChannel 5, a man sitting across the aisle also noticed the text.
She said: “He tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘I need to talk to you.’ We’re just changing seats, the man remarked, taking off his headphones and turning around.
The comic was warned by the other passenger that he would not tolerate rude texts.
The two men immediately switched places.
When he sat down, Phillips recalled, “He saw me crying and asked why I was crying. We had a light conversation, which helped me feel better, and he advised me not to let it bother me or worry about it.
She eventually discovered that the person assisting her was Chase Irwin, a manager at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row bar and restaurant in Nashville.
Irwin photographed the man and wrote the following statement about him: “This gentleman, probably in his mid-50s, just texted his wife that he was sitting next to a smelly fat man and was about to puke. I saw her read his text.” and she now has a dejected expression. Should I say something when I land or will New Mexico slap him?
Phillips asked for help finding Irwin on Facebook because she didn’t know the man’s name.
Irwin maintained that he was not trying to gain attention by hitting.
“I wanted to wait until the end of the flight to say something, but I couldn’t let the guy sit next to her the whole flight and let her think he was making fun of her,” the passenger said. When I see someone cry, it really hits me, and when I saw her cry, it hit me so hard that I actually felt sick to my stomach,” he added.
When asked why he wanted to switch seats, the fat-shamer told NewsChannel 5 he said, “Because you’re a heartless person, I saw your text, and the girl next to you who was crying read your text too.” you really should think about how other people might feel.
“I felt extremely lucky and grateful that he was there. I hope it serves as a good example for others to do in similar circumstances and to stand up for people who need help,” Phillips added. The flight attendant insisted on giving him a free drink and hailed him as a hero. He was my hero, she didn’t need him.
This incident serves as a vital reminder of the power each of us possesses in the fight against cruelty, body shaming, and negativity. It is a call to action for all of us to stand up to hurtful behavior and show each other kindness, compassion, and support. Together we can create a world where love and understanding triumph over hate and ignorance, leaving no room for shaming or any form of discrimination.
“I feel a little more beautiful today,” she continued.