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Home / Lifestyle

Plus-size model confronts fat-shamer on plane

NZ Herald
2 Jul, 2017 09:02 PM5 mins to read

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Model Natalie Hage confronts a male passenger on flight over his fat shaming text messages and records it. Source / Facebook.com - Natalie Hage

A plus-sized model is sharing her story after she was fat-shamed for her weight by the passenger next to her on her flight.

Natalie Hage was headed to Los Angeles on an American Airlines flight when the man next to her began making it obvious that he wasn't thrilled by her presence next to him.

Hage had paid an additional $US70 for extra leg room but soon found herself anxious as her seat was in the middle.

View this post on Instagram

i still can't get over how fun the @torridfashion #thesecurves pool party was, clouds and all. i met so many of my favorite people and got to spend time with the loves of my life. perfect floral bikini from @torridfashion and chunky flatforms from @asos. (📸: @readytostare) 🖤

A post shared by natalie. ❤️ (@nataliemeansnice) on May 9, 2017 at 2:49pm PDT

No sooner had she sat down than the man next to her began "LOUDLY huffing, sighing, and readjusting himself in his seat" for more than 20 minutes before the model notices him text furiously while turning the phone away from her. So of course she looked.

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"The texts were about me and i'm almost positive he took photos of me," she said in an Instagram post showing photos she had snapped of the alleged conversation.

"Not only were the texts about me, but they were really mean and ugly, with even the recipient named 'linda' chiming back with shaming retorts...someone who can't even see the situation."

And while the text in the photos are seemingly difficult to read, Hage does offer some insight as to what they say.

She added: "It says 'hopefully she didn't have any mexican food' and his response is 'i think she ate a mexican'.

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"Then he proceeds to say he's leaving a 'neck mark on the window' because he's so smashed against the wall. From the photos, you can see i'm not in his space."

Hage claimed that the man even took up both arms rest and digged his elbows into her side which she said was in her seat.

She managed to snap his next text which said "if the news reports a DFW airbus a321 leaving the runway without rotating, that would be my flight."

And another that said "if these seats don't hold, it's not going to matter" along with many more, according to the model.

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Hage claims that she even asked the man to her right if they could switch and informed him of the situation but that he just 'laughed and refused' which she felt was fine given "it's not his issue".

"This is a fat person's 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," she said.

You can be completely in your own space, not bothering anyone, and people will still f*** with you and try to hurt you.

"All you can do is know you haven't done anything wrong just by existing and to move on."

View this post on Instagram

it's been a dang good day, y'all. ❤️ suit by @adoreme.

A post shared by natalie. ❤️ (@nataliemeansnice) on Apr 14, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

But the model did post her confrontation with the man on Facebook, receiving words of support from family, friends and fans.

In the video, Hage points out that the man was texting about her, to which he denies, before the model recounts some of the text she saw.

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The man then claims to have been drinking before going on the defensive saying that he had decided to "be nice to" her by offering the corner of his tray table.

"For what? i didn't have anything to need it and wasn't doing any activities while flying because i was crumpled in a ball," she told Dailymail.com

But then, the man -supposedly under the influence of alcohol - chastises her size even further attempting to explain why she shouldn't sit in the exit seat.

Hage then schools the man on her reasoning for being on the flight, having a scheduled photoshoot in Los Angeles, and lets him know the power of his words and the impact that they had on her time on the flight.

The video has had over one million views and over 7,000 Facebook reactions with most supporting the woman's strong resolve.

In a following Instagram post, the model shared her thanks for all the warm words of love people had for her.

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View this post on Instagram

❤️EDIT: THE VIDEO NOW HAS OVER A MILLION VIEWS ON FACEBOOK!!! HOLY COW!!!! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT! ❤️i wanted to say hello to everyone new joining my neck of the woods. thank you so so so much for the messages and comments overflowing with kindness. my heart is full. i didn't want to leave y'all hanging - i actually ended up saying something to him when we landed. i couldn't NOT speak up. i'm so tired of fat people being a social punching bag. i won't stand for it. i hope this dude learned something today.

A post shared by natalie. ❤️ (@nataliemeansnice) on Jun 29, 2017 at 9:20pm PDT

"Thank you so so so much for the messages and comments overflowing with kindness," she said of the post. "My heart is full."

- Daily Mail

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