Anais Gutierrez
United Airlines got a backlash on Monday when celebrities and people tweeted the airline in total outrage. This happened after a video went viral showing a man being violently dragged out of his seat.
This week the airline is in the headlines again and for all the wrong reasons. After the terrible incident, celebrities expressed their opinions and slammed the company via social media.
Terrible and shameful incident
On Sunday, a passenger on a flight from Chicago to Louisville was violently dragged from his seat after the airline overbooked the flight.
Once United noticed it was overbooked, it proceeds to randomly select a passenger to remove him from the plane and make him take the next flight, the next day.
Another passenger taped the incident and the video went viral on Monday. In the video, you can see the man being violently ripped off his seat by police officers.
As the passenger is grabbed and pulled across the aisle by the arms people starts calling out for the incident as the officers and the United workers carry on.
In another video, the same passenger is shown back on the plane as he’s reluctant to leave. He’s bleeding and repeating the phrase “just kill me.”
@United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW
— Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017
United’s response
On Monday, the company’s CEO Oscar Munoz apologized after the video created a social media uproar. Munoz also added that the incident would be reviewed and the passenger would be contacted to resolve the situation.
United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0
— United (@united) April 10, 2017
Only people considered this response was just not good enough. People considered it a real outrage and some even considered it racist.
The thing is that even when the airline has right to remove passengers they did it in the most terrible way.
This incident is just unacceptable, and that response from Munoz leaves a lot to think about United’s care and respect for their clients.
Celebrities united against injustice
People reacted and celebrities joined the backlash from outraged individuals raising their voices towards injustice.
I am appalled and absolutely disgusted….this is unacceptable. https://t.co/ZO7X2Cbdve
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) April 10, 2017
Wow @united. New low.
— Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) April 10, 2017
The passive language here is how corporations deflect responsibility. "Review of what happened." It didn't just happen. You did this. https://t.co/nTGOXfDMZ4
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) April 10, 2017
"…having to re-accommodate?" That's what we're calling it? https://t.co/KotBnQYpF5
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) April 10, 2017
Hey @united – never flying on your airline again. Know I'm not the only one. Your statement is abhorrently vague & without accountability https://t.co/vB2obe0dW1
— Jaime King (@Jaime_King) April 10, 2017
Having flown #united last week, I feel very blessed to not be tweeting this message from a hospital bed.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) April 10, 2017
cannot wait to use "i will re-accommodate your ass" in my next fight
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 10, 2017
United Airlines new slogan: “Fly the friendly skies once you get off the scary ground.”
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) April 10, 2017
I feel like Pepsi and United are pulling from the same employment agencies
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) April 10, 2017
Source: ABC News
Loading…