Originally Posted by
SSF556
Obviously you are allowed to take your mask off briefly to eat and you should not be treated any differently based on which politicians you support.
It sounds like Southwest are claiming that he was not being compliant at all during boarding etc. and that he was then using the false excuse that he was eating. We don't actually have video of what happened so it is basically a he said, she said. Although the fact that he is not even wearing a mask in the only video we do have - which is him talking to the airline crew member and not eating - suggests that southwest are probably telling the truth here.
I am guessing based on the evidence that he is someone who is anti mask and that this is a non story. But without more evidence we cannot say for sure.