Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

TikToker Escorted Off Plane After Flight Attendant Mistook Their Eczema For Monkeypox

TikToker Escorted Off Plane After Flight Attendant Mistook Their Eczema For Monkeypox
@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

Customer satisfaction at popular airlines has been tanking in the last few months, and it's not just about airlines like Air Canada and Delta being short-staffed. It's more so about how customers have felt short-changed by the airlines they booked with.

While many flights have been canceled lately, with no option for rescheduling or refund, a person recently almost missed out on their flight because of a mistake the flight attendants made.


Jacqueline Nguyen, or @jacqueline.ngu on TikTok, who uses they/them pronouns, had already boarded their flight with Spirit Airlines and settled into their seat when they were approached by a complaint-resolution official who asked them to step off of the airplane.

Once they were on the jet bridge, Nguyen realized the flight staff were accusing them of having Monkeypox.

"I think the exact thing they asked was, 'How long have you had that rash?' or 'I need to ask you about that rash.'"
"I realized what was happening and what they thought. I tried to explain that this was just my eczema, that I've had it my whole life, and that it's not contagious."

Stressed, Nguyen began to cry. In response, the conflict-resolution official demanded they produce medical documentation to prove that they were experiencing an eczema flare-up. Nguyen explained that they did not have documentation on-hand, but they did have prescription eczema dermatological cream.

You can watch the video here:

@jacqueline.ngu

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

While they were able to board the plane because of their medical cream, Nguyen was worried that everyone on the flight would think that they were a risk and "diseased."

In a later video, Nguyen explained how the flight attendants only made them feel worse about it.

Upon reboarding the plane, Nguyen came into contact with the flight attendant who originally drew attention to her eczema and reported her to the conflict-resolution official who asked her to step off of the plane.

In a text overlay, Nguyen wrote:

"We were able to board the flight again after I presented a tube of my prescribed eczema cream."
"My wife called out the conflict-resolution official on being discriminatory, for which she was told there was 'no need for an attitude.'"
"As we walked down the plane aisle again, the flight attendant [from before] was walking down the aisle, and when she saw me, she promptly turned around and walked the other way, not even looking at me, as if eye contact would spread it."
"This has happened to other people who were not so lucky as to have anything with them as 'proof'."
"I want to say that I understand there being precautions, but when these precautions are based in ignorance, it turns to prejudice."

You can watch the video here:

@jacqueline.ngu

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

TikTok was furious on Nguyen's behalf

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok


@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

Some were also afraid of this happening to them, too, because of their own appearances.

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

@jacqueline.ngu/TikTok

In a third video, Nguyen shared the side-effects of posting their initial video.

@jacqueline.ngu

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

Spirit Airlines didn't reach out to Nguyen to apologize or to otherwise make the situation better.

What they did do was fire Nguyen's wife the day after the first video was posted. They were certain it was either because Nguyen shared the videos on social media, or because their wife accused them of being "discriminatory" while talking on the jet bridge.

They did not otherwise indicate if they would pursue legal action.

Hopefully, more positive side effects would come of sharing the videos, in addition to Nguyen's original home of spreading awareness of dermatological issues in the face of the spread of Monkeypox.

More from Trending

Country Singer Gavin Adcock went on a drunken rant over Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" success.
Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Country singer rants over Beyoncé album

Country singer Gavin Adcock became the title of his next album, “Own Worst Enemy,” after going on an unhinged rant about the legitimacy of Beyoncé's Grammy-winning and record-breaking Cowboy Carter in the country music genre.

Adcock, whose upcoming album is set for release next month, was filmed during a live performance last weekend, complaining that Beyoncé and her album are not “country music.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Dionne Warwick; Tiny Chef
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images; @ToonHive/X

Dionne Warwick Is Ready To Go To War With Nickelodeon Over 'Tiny Chef' Cancellation

You know your campaign against a show's cancellation is achieving widespread attention when you get people like venerated singer Dionne Warwick advocating for you.

Nickelodeon's The Tiny Chef Show was recently cancelled, much to the dismay of its viewers and creators. It was also a genuinely surprising decision, since the show has won an Emmy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman relaxing in sunhat and sunglasses
Photo by Jordan Bauer on Unsplash

People Explain Which 'Small Luxuries' They Can't Live Without

Many of us have committed to being fairly financially frugal and not overspending on silly, unnecessary things.

That is to say, sometimes, it's fun to splurge on something one time to see what it's like to experience that small luxury.

Keep ReadingShow less
two women in emotional distress seated on couch
Ben White on Unsplash

People Who've Experienced Grief Share The Most Tone-Deaf Things They've Heard

Grief, loss, trauma are all part of life. But for most people, the emotions and reactions that go with them are difficult to witness.

So they rely on platitudes to fill any holes in conversation. That's rarely a good idea.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Demands 'Boss Of AT&T' Fix Equipment After Failed Conference Call In Bizarre Meltdown

When most of us have technical difficulties, we contact tech support or customer service.

But if you're President of the United States, just ranting on social media—then having your White House Press Secretary post a screenshot of your post on a social media platform people actually use—is apparently the answer.

Keep ReadingShow less