plus-size model Juliana Nehme
A Brazilian plus-size ‘model’ and ‘influencer’ threw a tantrum after Qatar Airways told her she was too fat to fit into a seat in economy class.
Juliana Nehme, 38, was told she had to purchase a $3,000 First Class seat in order to board her flight from Beirut, Lebanon to Doha, Qatar because she was too big for the economy seat.
The morbidly obese influencer told her social media followers that she missed her flight because of the incident.
Nehme took to her Instagram account in an effort to turn her loyal social media followers against Qatar Airways to try to get them canceled.
WATCH:
Full text of Juliana Nehme’s rage post against Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways responded and said Juliana Nehme was aggressive with airline workers and security had to be called twice to calm her down.
According to Fox News, Juliana Nehme scared airline staffers and passengers with her outburst and aggressive behavior.
Qatar Airlines refused to back down and said morbidly obese passengers may be required to purchase two seats if they cannot lower their armrests or secure their seatbelts.
Fox News reported:
Qatar Airways is responding after a plus-size model said she was not allowed to board a flight because she was too “fat” to fit in an economy seat.
Juliana Nehme reportedly claimed that the airline had told her to shell out about $3,000 to upgrade to first class and would not refund her the $947 she had spent on the flight from Beirut, Lebanon, to Doha, Qatar.
“I bought a return ticket to Brazil through Qatar and arriving at the time to check in, a Qatar flight attendant called my mother while another staffer was finishing our check in and told her I wasn’t welcome to board because I’m fat,” she said, according to News.com.au.
“Qatar Airways treats all passengers with respect and dignity and in line with industry practices and similar to most airlines, anyone who impedes upon the space of a fellow traveler and cannot secure their seatbelt or lower their armrests may be required to purchase an additional seat both as a safety precaution and for the comfort and safety of all passengers,” the airline said in an emailed statement. “The passenger in question at Beirut Airport was initially extremely rude and aggressive to check-in staff when one of her traveling party did not produce required PCR documentation for entry to Brazil.”
“As a result, airport security was requested to intervene as staff and passengers were extremely concerned with her behavior,” it concluded.
Qatar Airways said Nehme was rebooked on a flight from Lebanon.