Man Throws Now-Viral Temper Tantrum When Woman Reclines Seat
Taylor Rains February 13, 2020
Should you or should you not recline your seat during a flight? The debate has surfaced once again after an American Airlines passenger Tweeted a video of a man punching her reclined seat. The video has since gone viral.
The Video
The video was posted by passenger Wendi Williams who said the man behind her was aggressively punching her seat after she reclined. She wrote in her Tweet, “Here’s a great jackhole! He was angry that I reclined my seat and punched it about 9 times – HARD, at which point I began videoing him, and he resigned to this behavior.” The behavior appears to be constant thumping on the woman’s seat while watching a video on his phone.
@BravoAndy Here’s a great jackhole! He was angry that I reclined my seat and punched it about 9 times – HARD, at which point I began videoing him, and he resigned to this behavior. The other jackhole is the @AmericanAir flight attendant who reprimanded me and offered him rum! pic.twitter.com/dHeUysrKTu
— wendi (@steelersfanOG) February 9, 2020
American Airlines’ Response
According to Wendi, the flight attendant did not help her or seem to be concerned about her situation but instead offered the man a free alcoholic beverage because she filmed him without his consent. She Tweeted, “The other jackhole is the @AmericanAir flight attendant who reprimanded me and offered him rum!”
When American asked Wendi to reach out to the company, she responded, “You clearly want me to do this quietly through a DM. I’m done being quiet! I’ve had extensive neck surgeries – my cervical spine is completed fused … I’ve lost time at work, had to visit a doctor, got x-rays, and have had horrible headaches for a week.”
NBC News obtained a statement from the airline saying they were “looking into the issue” and “the safety and comfort of our customers and team members is our top priority.”
Twitter Response
Some Twitter users came to Wendi’s defense. One commented, “How people can defend this passive aggressive man is beyond me. Seats recline for a reason. When you take a seat in the last row, you consent to all discomforts associated with it. Otherwise, spend extra for more comfort.” Another said, “If he doesn’t like reclining seats he should have taken it up with the airline. They recline for a reason and can be used.”
On the other hand, some people berated Wendi, claiming she was in the wrong. One posted, “You lose, Wendi. He may be acting childish but you’re proud of being inconsiderate and over-privileged. He deserved the rum for having to deal with you thinking you could lay your head in his lap.”
Although many people pointed the finger at the man or Wendi, there was a third player in this ring that some users say should be to blame for the incident – American Airlines. One person Tweeted, “Stop blaming each other. Airlines are HOPING you guys will fight.” Another noted, “Blame the airlines for stuffing passengers like sardines and not innovating cabins in 70 years. Not some lady reclining a chair that’s meant to.” A third said, “Worth noting the true villain would be the airlines themselves which have spent the past few decades making the flying experience ever more horrific, from jamming seats ever closer together to even forcibly tossing people off these miserable flights for overbooking.”
Who do you think is in the wrong? Let us know in the comments!
I'm amazed at how much traction this story has gotten and how some people believe that reclining your seat is rude and should be banned. 1 - seats are made to recline 2 - FAs regularly announce to "sit back, recline your seat, and relax" or something similar 3 - fully upright, the seats are not very ergonomic and cause back / hip pain after short periods of time 4 - if you can't deal with someone reclining into you, pay for extra legroom seats or FC 5- in no way, should you ever resort to violence on an airplane - this man should have been arrested on arrival! I have flown over 1.5 million miles and I recline my seat. Most of the time, it's to snooze, but it's also just a lot more comfortable. I always try to be considerate of the person behind me and will not recline during meal times, but otherwise, I sit back, relax, recline my seat, and enjoy the ride.
I think Fullfare and MRM nailed it.
in the past i don't mind if someone in front of me recline. but there was a time when i have my 1 yrs old on my lap (didn't manage to get the one in front with basinet) and the person in front of me fully recline. I asked nicely and she won't bother, the stewardess also asked her which was refused. then she told me that there is nothing she can do. she can't tell her to stop recline, can only ask, and the flight is full so she can't move us. since that i hate those who recline their seat fully. after i read this, i wish i did this back then.
That guy is an absolute jerk (to be overly polite). He should be arrested for assault. Grown men don't get to act like petulant little kindergartners. And if the flight attendant gave alcohol to someone with the inability to control his temper and body, then she or he should be disciplined. And yes, she had every right to recline her seat. I recline my seat; I don't bitch and moan when the person in front of me reclines; and I avoid airlines that don't have reclining seats. And I sure as heck don't act like a little child and punch, kick or hit the seat in front of me.
I agree that if recliners have EVERY RIGHT to recline. Even if by doing so they irritate you, discomfort you, and are complete jerks, they have broken no laws. On the other hand, if in your anguish you so much as to lay a hand on them, guess what buddy, you're gonna be sued. I also agree that this is a problem the airlines have created but to demand that the person in front of you doesn't recline is ridiculous and fruitless. If recliners bother you THAT much, then pay for a better seat.