Plus-size model Tess Holliday recently shared a troubling experience she had while flying first class on United Airlines. The 40-year-old was traveling from Tampa, Florida, with her 9-year-old son when an encounter with a flight attendant left her in a “state of shock.”
Holliday explained to People magazine that she got up to use the airplane bathroom during the flight. “I was in the restroom, and my hip hit the flight attendant call button,” she said. When she exited the bathroom, the flight attendant began telling her that he noticed she was traveling with her child and suggested that losing weight would be in her best interest.
The flight attendant went on to share a story about his sister, whom he described as “very, very large, probably [Holliday’s] size,” saying she had recently experienced discrimination on a flight. “He said that his sister needed to lose weight as well, and that the long-term effect on our bodies isn’t good for our health,” Holliday recounted. The conversation lasted around 10 minutes, during which Holliday said she was mostly frozen, not wanting to make a scene in front of her son.
In a TikTok video, Holliday added that this flight was important to her son as it was his first time flying first class since he was very young. “He had flown when he was a baby, but didn’t remember, so this was a really exciting experience for him,” she said.
Holliday also revealed that the flight attendant mentioned someone had filed a complaint with United Airlines against his sister because of her weight, and that United contacted him with remarks that made him uncomfortable. However, he did agree that his sister needed to lose weight.
According to Holliday, the flight attendant told her that if she cared about her child, she would take action and lose weight. “He then goes on to tell me that because of my size, I am kidding myself if I think that I don’t need to lose weight,” she claimed.
Addressing potential reactions to her story, Holliday said, “I know people might think he was just trying to be helpful. That’s not the point. You don’t say things like that to people.” She noted that the flight attendant said many other things and that the conversation went on far too long. Fortunately, she was able to excuse herself when another passenger came to use the bathroom.
At the end of her video, Holliday added that the flight attendant later came by her seat offering snacks and gave her son gummies to keep him from being “tempted.”
Following the incident, Holliday commented that she had contacted United Airlines. “They said that they would pass it along and talk to the team member. I also told them I don’t want anyone losing their job. I just want them to be aware and maybe do some sensitivity training so it doesn’t happen again,” she wrote.
Fox News Digital has reached out to a representative for Holliday for further comment. United Airlines has not commented on the matter.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/29/entertainment/plus-size-model-tess-holliday-claims-united-airlines-flight-attendant-told-her-to-lose-weight/
