Kevin Smith’s complaints about Southwest Airlines made public on Twitter
Southwest Airlines may have learned a valuable lesson tonight: never anger a popular film director with over 1.6 million Twitter followers.
Film director Kevin Smith is best known for his films such as Clerks, Dogma, Chasing Amy and the upcoming Cop Out, but on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 13, Mr. Smith was better known on Twitter as an extremely dissatisfied customer with Southwest Airlines.
While Mr. Smith has never been bashful about his weight issues, he has never really discussed discrimination over his size. What happened on the 13th on Twitter was a definite exception. At approximately 8:30 p.m. EST, Mr. Smith sent out the first of many tweets, the nickname for short messages posted on Twitter, about his being removed from a Southwest Airlines flight over the Capt’s concerns that he was a “safety risk.”
It seems Mr. Smith had already settled into his seat when he was informed he would be removed from the plane. A heavier set woman near him was also chastised over her size and how she should have bought two tickets for the flight according to the well-known film director.
Mr. Smith departed the plane and was placed on another Southwest flight shortly afterwards where he continued his verbal attack on the airline where he posted statements such as:
The @SouthwestAir Diet. How it works: you’re publicly shamed into a slimmer figure. Crying the weight right off has never been easier!
The Southwest Twitter manager for the evening tried to do her best to diffuse the situation, but due to Mr. Smith’s very large fan base, whom also happen to be very vocal, the airline customer service rep didn’t get very far. Mr. Smith has vowed to discuss this in the next episode of his podcast, Smodcast.
In this day and age, it has become fairly clear that angering consumers isn’t always wise as they can turn to social media in a matter of moments and raise a movement against you in the blink of an eye. Add in the fact he is a celebrity with a very loyal fan base, and the problem gets magnified that many more times.
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February 14th, 2010
Hi Sean -
We’ve reached out to Kevin via Twitter and phone and hopefully can offer him apology and try to make things right.
Christi
@southwestair
February 14th, 2010
Hi Christi,
What about all of the other people Southwest has kicked off of planes or mistreated for not buying two tickets? Are you going to “try to make things right” for them too?
Whatever.
@doucheair
February 14th, 2010
Of course not, whatever. They aren’t famous celebrities who can raise a stink. Southwest doesn’t care about them, and they are too arrogant to take their money.
February 14th, 2010
Maybe larger passengers should start taking responsibility for their size and stop treating it like credit card debt and pretending it doesn’t exist. Airplanes are the same damn size as they were “back in the good ole days”… but our American ASSES are not! Airplane manufacturers should not have to create larger aircraft just because so many people have no damn self-control (and don’t try to blame is on hormone…puh-leeze)
If you’re a person of size ACCEPT THAT! Your size should NEVER encroach on someone else’s space….if it does, it will be addressed. Stop boo-HOOing because the airline did it’s JOB to keep other passengers comfortable and just deal with the fact that you’re large.
As for being shamed…. trust me, people noticed your size long before Southwest Airlines brought any attention to you.
February 14th, 2010
I’m with Jason. I wish more airlines would charge large folks for two seats. You have no right to squeeze your large backside into your seat and half of mine. Airline travel, like driving a car, is a privlege, not a RIGHT. Fat folks (regardless how they GOT fat) need to face reality and stop invading MY space just because THEY are larger than the seat. Simple rule, if you can’t fit into a single seat you buy another ticket or don’t fly.
February 14th, 2010
I agree that it is uncomfortable to ride next to a large person but it is important to remember that:
1) Airlines are not solely privately run companies. They have received BILLIONS of taxpayer money that everyone was forced to pay. They must, then, serve the needs of all who keep them afloat.
2) Airlines have shrunken their seat size so as to make it purposely uncomfortable for all aboard. Though I fit easily in a modern seat I would gladly pay a little bit more for the extra room of the past. Not many people can afford to pay 10x for a business class upgrade and I don’t need all of their frills. Just an honest realistic size space.
3) Kevin Smith didn’t hold in his gut when he checked in at the desk. He is a big guy. If they had issues with him it should have been upon boarding or check-in.
February 14th, 2010
yep, I remember the 70s, seats being a little wider and having a little leg room.
lets face it, flying in the USA just plain bites. Security is a hassle and totally ineffective, the airlines cut out meals, but still charge the same amount of money.
If America ever has a nationwide high speed rail system, the US airlines will never see another penny from me, ever.
February 14th, 2010
So when Kevin transferred to the earlier flight, why didn’t he mention that he needed two seats, as on the original flight?? His behavior strikes me as being the same as a spoiled but popular child. Unfortunate he has to set so low a standard.
February 14th, 2010
Im thinking bigger airplane seats would be more comfortable for everybody small or large…wouldnt it??
February 15th, 2010
Seats have never been wider folks…. know your facts.
A boeing 737 is a Boeing 737 whether it was 1970 or 2010… nothing has changed but the color of the seat cover, it’s just that your ASS was smaller in 1970.
Was there more legroom then? Yes, more inflight service, yes… but YOU were paying for it then. Now you all expect to fly across the country for $89 and then bitch and moan that you’re not getting anything for it. Um…genius.. you’re FLYING in a tube at 40,000 feet 600mph to get to your destination and you just paid $89. shut up!
The American public has become so entitled and whiney, never accepting blame or responsibility for anything. You vote with your kool-aid wallet and complain with your champagne mouths.
HOW you got fat is not relevant… a plane seat is a certain size, if you don’t fit into it then you need to buy two…. THE END! Kevin should’ve known better as he’d “done this in the past”… someone’s looking for attention and a pity party, and looks how many idiots are following his lead. Poor me… shut up people…..
February 15th, 2010
Yo, Dummy Jason, seat width circa 1970 was 21 inches, seat width today is 19 inches, they have gotten smaller.
Good thing we are not in the same room, because I’m a 200lb bodybuilder, and would smash your face in just for bragging about your superiority.
February 15th, 2010
If they pay for 2 seats then do they get 2 meals?…nomnomnom!
February 15th, 2010
If you listen to Kevin’s Smodcast he mentioned several times that he gets extra seats just because 1. he can afford it. 2. And he is not a “people person”. So, the fact that he did purchase it doesn’t mean he had to because of his size. Its a bogus argument by SWA.
Plus if he can put down the armrests comfortably, which apparently he can, then that should have satisfied the SWA regulation. The problem is that he was still ejected after passing SWA own standards. AND THEN they spoke to a larger woman that was sitting in the same aisle on his next flight about her size. There was no one sitting between Kevin and this woman. It was an unnecessary cruel discussion that this woman had to endure for no reason. SWA KNEW that there was no one assigned to that seat (Kevin had his two original seats he purchased). That is what blew him up. Up to then it was just a good story that he could tell over and over..
February 17th, 2010
Really. Can’t he just suck it up like a big boy and quit whining like a baby.
I like some of his movies, but for Christ’s sake… just deal with it.
April 7th, 2010
OMG Becareful!! There’s a 200 pound body builder who will E-bully you!! Freedomlover 200 pounds and a body builder?? Haha don’t brag about that lol. And calm ur ego sweetheart. People argue and u get way beyond butt hurt. I can literally hear some estrogen induced tears flowing from ya!! 200 and a bodybuilder is not impressive either.
April 2nd, 2011
I was wondering if anyone out there has run into this issue The southwest airline website steering you to southwest vacations site when you are booking a Vegas trip to include flights and room This cost me more money If I would of been kept on the southwest . com site I could of booked a vegas package there for less Thanks Ben
November 26th, 2011
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