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American Apologizes to Two-Time Cancer Survivor Over “F*** Cancer” Hoodie

American Airlines is now apologizing to a cancer survivor after she said the airline forced her to cover her hoodie over a foul word. Roslyn Singleton was flying aboard the carrier from Los Angeles to Charlotte wearing the sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “F*** Cancer” – which goes against the airline’s policy on “offensive statements and inappropriate language.”

After calling out the airline on Instagram and retaining a lawyer, a flyer is getting an apology from American Airlines over their request to cover her hoodie with choice language on it. The Charlotte Observer reports the airline has issued an apology to passenger Roslyn Singleton, who flew aboard the airline wearing a sweatshirt reading: “F*** Cancer.”

Flyer Calls Episode “Disrespectful and Embarrassing,” While American Points to Policy

According to Singleton’s take published to Instagram, she was flying with American from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), with a stop over at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). She claims that when boarding in L.A., an American gate agent asked her to cover up her sweatshirt, or she would not be allowed on the plane.

The airline took offense to the use of the four-letter F-obscenity on the front of her hoodie. In a statement to the Observer, the airline said their policies “prohibit clothing that displays offensive statements and inappropriate language from being worn on board.” In the airline’s conditions of carriage, American requires passengers to: “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.”

However, Singleton claims that she was singled out for having “strong feelings on cancer.” A statement from her attorney, James L. Walker, Jr., claims her sentiment is one that “millions have said before and there is nothing illegal about said statement…Even harassing her after she removed the hoodie was a violation of her constitutional rights.”

A spokesperson for the airline told the Observer the American team “Reached out to learn more about Ms. Singleton’s experience, offer our apologies and reaffirm our support for efforts to fight cancer.”

Flyers Behaving Questionably Continue to Draw Attention

Although this incident did not disrupt a flight, it is the latest involving flyers making accusations against carriers. In April 2021, a family accused Spirit of singling them out over face mask rules, while the airline says the group was non-compliant.

21 Comments
S

She's an attention w***e. I'm glad you survived cancer, so did I. But I'm not going to bloody advertise it.

M
MRM April 27, 2021

I will never support a charity whose main marketing thrust is being vulgar. There's plenty of professional charities/companies that get their point across quite successfully without stooping to such base levels. But hey - if others want to put their money in the vulgar markets it's their money - mine won't be found there.

A
AlwaysFlyStar April 18, 2021

Fuck Cancer is an charity that raises cancer awareness and promotes early and frequent testing. And I find it fairly effective, as it seems based on the idea that people get far more upset by the word 'fuck' than they do about cancer.

J
Jane42 April 16, 2021

Wow. I am a cancer survivor and have never felt the need to walk around with that on my shirt. Have I said it? Sure I have. Does not mean I can break the rules. My grandsons are 7 and 10, so they are able to read. Very poor taste.

S
sweetsleep April 12, 2021

I agree with the totally inappropriate F bomb shirt and sadly I encounter this on shirts and bracelets as a healthcare professional- in the hospital!. it is offensive even in a hospital setting and so much more so out in the public domain.