Man kicked off Spirit Airlines for wearing ‘obscene’ hoodie

The man was allegedly removed from the flight after an argument with staff regarding his sweatshirt. Photo / 123rf

A viral video has captured the moment a Texas traveller was kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight because of an “obscene” piece of clothing.

The clip, filmed by a fellow passenger and shared on Facebook, showed John Garcia jnr arguing with crew on a flight from Los Angeles to San Antonio.

The 43-year-old was shocked that his hoodie, which showed the words “FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR” resulted in him being escorted off the flight. “It caught me like totally by surprise,” he told the San Antonio Express-News.

Spirit Airlines said it was aware of the video and the team was investigating the events.

Garcia told San Antonio Express-News that the first incident occurred as he placed his bag in the overhead bin and a flight attendant asked if he was in the correct seat. Several minutes later, the attendant allegedly returned and asked him to remove his hoodie because of the “obscene language” on it.

The father-of-four initially refused to remove the hoodie, made by a clothing brand named FWUH, an acronym for “F**K WHAT U HEARD!”.

He claims the attendant said she would contact the captain and soon he was approached by a male flight attendant and security staff member. He was given two options, remove the hoodie or leave the plane.

Garcia claims he asked why the hoodie was against airline policy but was told he had to accept their judgment and was free to file a complaint online. Garcia said he then asked for the flight attendant and security officers’ names.

In the clip, Garcia removes the hoodie but continues arguing with the flight attendant. “I just wanna ask,” Garcia is heard saying before the attendant says “I’m taking him off” and “I want you off”.

Garcia then asks to take a photo of both men’s ID badges and see their names before he leaves the aircraft. After a layover of more than 12 hours, he got on another return flight and claimed he wore the hoodie with zero issues.

Andrew Martin Hoel, who posted the video, described the flight attendant as a ‘Karen’; a term typically used to describe people perceived as entitled or demanding.

“Some Karen on the plane from LA to San Antonio on Spirit didn’t like this guy’s hoodie,” the caption read.

Hoel questioned the state of the world given the man was “hated on” for wearing a brand that was pointedly “anti-hate”. He described the staff as “blatantly violating his freedom of expression” by asking him to remove the hoodie.

Online, many people were in support of Garcia, stating the staff “missed the message” of the hoodie.

“But why was she mad?” one person commented on the video. “It said ‘F**K HATE’ should we be promoting ppl TO HATE?”

Several said they hoped Garcia sued the airline over the incident. “Some people are just wrong,” one commented on the video. “I hope he sues the s**t out of Spirit.”

One suggested those offended by the hoodie should “stay home”.

Can clothing get you kicked off a flight?

Airlines may not have specific dress codes but do have a contract of carriage, which states conditions travellers must meet to travel with the airline.

According to Spirit Airlines’ contract, travellers “shall not be permitted to board the aircraft or may be required to leave an aircraft if that guest ... is barefoot or inadequately clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene, or offensive in nature”.