Hollywood Director Deemed Too Fat to Fly

Kevin Smith says he's "way fat," but that shouldn't stop him from flying.

The director and actor says a pilot ejected him from a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to Burbank, Calif., saying he didn't fit properly into a single seat.

Smith, who directed the new Bruce Willis movie "Cop Out" and previously directed the films "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," raised a stink about the incident on his Twitter page Sunday, saying "I'm way fat, but I'm not there just yet," and "If you look like me, you may be ejected from Southwest Air."

He posted a picture of himself sitting on the plane with his cheeks puffed out.

Southwest says its "Customer of Size" policy requires travelers to be able to fit safely and comfortably in one seat or make other arrangements.

After a storm of angry online comments from Smith and his fans, the airline issued an apology, first from its own Twitter account, and later in a statement on its Web site titled "Not So Silent Bob," a jovial jab at the Silent Bob character Smith plays in many of his films.

"We would like to echo our tweets and again offer our heartfelt apologies to you," the statement said.

The airline said it also accommodated Smith on a later flight, gave him a $100 voucher and apologized by phone.

Both Smith and the airline acknowledged that he had bought two seats for his original flight from Oakland, where he had spoken at the Macworld Expo conference.

But he was flying standby in order to catch an earlier flight, and only one was available.

Smith insisted that he was still able to put both armrests down and buckle his seat belt, which is Southwest's standard.

[Celtic_Bear]

After hearing about what happened to Kevin Smith on Southwest I called them because my wife, boy and I were scheduled to go see my folks in Marlton, NJ. We were going to fly from Houston to Philly, round trip. I told them that my wife and I were both large sized folk, and long story short they would NOT let me give her my ticket so she could go with just the boy. I had to sell them back my low fare ticket and buy a high fare ticket because we didn't get her two seats to begin with, even though we've had THREE SEATS BOOKED SINCE LAST FALL. As a result, I will not be able to go with them when they go see my folks this Spring.

I feel I've been truly discriminated against for the first time in my life. I feel angry, ashamed, and, above all, powerless. This is the worst feeling in the universe.

[fatastic]

Whether you're fat or skinny noone likes to be stuck in an uncomfortable situation. Who wants to be pressing flesh with a stranger in the seat next to you? No one. Not fat people and not skinny people. So the rule that a person should be able to fasten their seat belt and put down their arm rest is fair. If a passenger is kicked off a flight or asked to pay for two seats when they FIT in their seat, then they are being discriminated against. But there is more to this issue. If they don't fit the above criteria is it fair to charge them double or kick them off the plane? What if they are traveling with a friend or relative that doesn't mind sitting next to them and touching skin with them the whole flight? What if there are numerous empty seats on the flight so that someone using two seats is not an imposition on anyone else? What if the airline purposely refuses to provide any larger seats for larger customers because they are counting on having that excuse to charge larger people double? Should someone who takes up one seat plus 20% of another seat be charged for 100% of the seat? Shouldn't the airline provide at least a few larger size seats, in a variety of sizes, and then charge larger customers in advance based on the size of seat they will require? IE. If an isle that normally fits three seats is redone to fit two larger seats, then shouldn't each of those customers pay an extra 50 percent for the extra 1/2 seat space they are using? Also, shouldn't the airline have clear weight/size guidelines available ahead of time so that heavy passengers will no in advance what to expect? The embarrassment of being kicked off a plane because of your size, or forced to pay double when you were not expecting to, should be avoided at all costs.
Personally I think there are worse things than sitting next to a heavy person. What about being forced to sit next to someone who smells bad? Or who talks incessantly and says nothing? Or a screaming baby? Or someone wearing a strong perfume or cologne that makes your eyes water and your head hurt? Bottom line, heavy people need to be afforded the same dignity, respect, and accomodations as everyone else.

[fieldsmb1]

This is all on the Airlines. The Airlines keep making the seats smaller and smaller in order to get more passengers on the plane and make more MONEY. Everybody knows it's all about the MONEY. No other reason, nothing else said.

[BeachLover77]

Ok, I've never been compelled to leave a comment before to anyone. But I am now. I flew about 10 years ago on a flight from Indy to Vegas. I'd like to start out by saying I am 5'5" female and 100 lbs. Not exactly a big person. I was flying with my ex who was normal sized. He sat by the window, I was in the middle seat. Some man sat next to me that was WAY too overweight. Although we did have the armrest down in between us, he spilled over the armrest literally. I was all the way up against the armrest of my ex trying to get some room as his shoulders spilled over to me. I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable. The man kept falling asleep, snoring and his arm kept falling into my lap. I was mortified! His arm was so heavy that I couldn't pick it all the way up since he was asleep...it kept falling and it just laid in my seat for most of the flight. I didn't complain to anyone that worked for the airline though because I didn't want anyone to look at me like "Well what's the big deal? You're not that big!". That was the MOST uncomfortable flight of my life. I felt violated as I had paid for my seat and was obviously not intruding on anyone or making them uncomfortable. I also could not get up to use the restroom as it was physically impossible. I was trapped in my seat. So I am not trying to be mean by any means, but I kind of understand their stance. It's not fair to make someone else uncomfortable just because you are a certain size. Whether it's a size by choice or by genes. I wish someone would've stood up for me on the airline I was on!!

[mikkipierce]

As an airplane traveler who had to sit next to an obese person who was not required to purchase an extra seat I can testify to the misery I experienced. The flight was completely full and no extra seats were available. The staff did nothing. I had the middle seat, my husband had the aisle seat, the LARGE person had the window seat and 3/4 of mine. If my husband had not been next to me I don't know what I would have done. In looking back I will never be that kind again. I will complain loudly and refuse to be seated next to an obese person again. The airlines need to take this seriously for everyone concerned.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

The real issue here concerns the seats.

25 years ago, the airlines searched for a way to try to squeeze out more profit. They realized that by adding an extra row or two of seats, they could earn more revenue per flight.

Then, they realized that if they made the seats smaller, that could add more profit as well, because they could get one or two more seats per aisle.

So, the result is more seats that are narrower. No intention to stereotype, but, more than likely, the seats are made in another country, where the people are smaller.

Who is at fault? Boeing only makes the aircraft to customer specifications. Therefore, it is the airlines that are directly at fault for all of the carping and complaining about seat comfort and lack of legroom.

[Leaderless]

Airlines, just like any other businesses, want to maximize their profits.
That's why there are different classes in the cabin and you pay for your level of comfort. We all know roughly the sizes of those seats. If you are a large person, be responsible and pay for the appropriate spaces that you need. Encroaching on to other people spaces won't gain you any sympathy.
The fault lies with the person who causes the discomfort to others.

[Qualcomm]

Of course the airlines wants to increase their profit. So do McDonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried, Taco Bell, etc., etc., etc.
Too big? Two tickets.

[mjb89]

All you have to do is look at the picture of his head and neck to know that he CANNOT fit into an airline seat. The operative word here is: DIET.

[avigil2]

AND exercise!

[NowBeWithThat]

Want to fly?

Lose weight, you blob. End of story.

[formrusmcsgt]

by Va_View February 16, 2010 9:34 AM EST
I don't see any comments in here that agree with Kevin.
---
And you don't see any I've made in the last two hours as CBS yanked them all.

Censor on duty must be obese....

[Va_View]

I don't see any comments in here that agree with Kevin. None. If he's going to fly, respect the carrier. Period. Don't get your undies in a bundle just because your particular situation doesn't match their rules. And definately don't go off crying to the public like a baby. Kevin: grow up, take it like a man, go on a diet, loose some weight and don't forget - you could just buy your own airplane. Problem solved. Then you could sit wherever you want even if weigh 1,000 lbs.