Model Natalie Hage was recently minding her own business on a flight when she noticed another passenger sending texts about her to a friend.
The man, sat next to Hage, claimed he was leaving a âneck mark on the windowâ because Hage was taking up too much room and said she looked like she had eaten âa Mexicanâ.
Hage, who believes the man also sent photos of her to his friend, took photos of the texts, before confronting the man about his comments.
In a video posted on Facebook, Hage asked the man if he often partakes in fat-shaming, before saying: âMy body is none of your business.â
On Instagram, Hage explained that she paid almost $70 (ÂŁ54) extra for her seat on the plane because she knows she âneeds a little extra leg roomâ.
âThe gentleman on my left began loudly huffing, sighing and readjusting himself in his seat. I see him furiously texting and then purposefully turning the phone away from me. So, naturally, next time he texts, I take a look,â she said.
âNot only were the texts about me, but they were really mean and ugly, with even the recipient named âLindaâ chiming back with shaming retorts.
âIf you canât read the texts, it says âhopefully she didnât have any Mexican foodâ and his response is âI think she ate a Mexicanâ. Then he proceeds to say heâs leaving a âneck mark on the windowâ because heâs so smashed against the wall.
âHis next text to her was âif the news reports a DFW airbus a321 leaving the runway without rotating, that would be my flightâ.â
Understandably, Hage felt uncomfortable after reading the manâs texts and asked the passenger on her right if heâd mind switching seats with her.
In response, he simply laughed and refused.
âThis is a fat personâs daily reality and not just on a plane. This is on a bus, standing in line at the grocery store, at a concert, on the internet. You can be completely in your own space, not bothering anyone and people will still fuck with you and try to hurt you,â Hage said.
âAll you can do is know you havenât done anything wrong just by existing and to move on.â
Towards the end of the flight, Hage decided to confront the man about his behaviour.
She filmed the interaction without showing the manâs face, but captioned the video: âYou should have seen his âholy shitâ face when I called him out.â
Hage told the man sheâd noticed him sending âhorrible textsâ about her.
At first he denied any wrongdoing, but when Hage began quoting him back and said she had photos of the messages, he immediately apologised.
âIâm sorry, I was drinking,â he said.
However, he then went on the question whether Hage was fit enough to sit by the emergency exit.
âWhen they ask if youâre willing and capable to assist people in getting off the airplane in an emergency, do you honestly think you are?â he asked.
Once again, Hage called him out for fat-shaming and calmly told him she works out five times a week.
âMy body is none of your business...donât ever treat anyone like that again,â she said.
It seems like the guy (finally) learnt his lesson, because as Hage was leaving the plane, he asked if he could take her for dinner to apologise properly.
Letâs hope heâs truly realised the error of his ways.