Actress Leisha Hailey, one of the stars of Showtime’s “The L Word,” is the focus of an Internet frenzy after being kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Hailey said in a series of tweets that she was booted off the plane because she kissed her girlfriend, the story reports.
The actress reportedly tweeted: "I have been discriminated against by @SouthwestAir. Flt. attendant said that it was a ‘family’ airline and kissing was not ok."
Other Hollywood figures have been chiming in on the incident, with director Kevin Smith, “One Tree Hill’s” Sophia Bush and comedian Sandra Bernhard among those offering opinions.
Bush tweeted: “Dear @SouthwestAir you seriously told @Leisha_Hailey that she could not kiss her GF on the plane & escorted them off? I see straight couples kissing on planes all the time. Is discrimination a standard part of your policy? How sad, ignorant, and disgusting. #LostCustomer #NOH8”
The story notes that Smith was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight last year in an incident in which the airline said Smith was too large to fit in a single seat. Responding to the Hailey incident, Smith retweeted another message, saying: "Via @brett0929 ‘you see @leisha_hailey’s trouble w/ @SouthwestAir? booted for kissing her girlfriend.’ Sounds like a case of Too Fab to Fly."
Other tweets and Internet posts expressed an opposing opinion, the story notes, including one Facebook post that says: “I think that 2 people were acting inappropriately and showing excessive PDA in an airplane and regardless of gender or sexuality, I think any 2 people would be kicked off the plane. I could easily see a straight couple also being escorted off the plane for this.”
Leisha Hailey
I have never, EVER seen a straight couple kicked off a plane for ‘kissing’ or even practically dry humping in the seats. Unfortunately, we HAVE to fly Southwest from here because it’s the only direct flights to LA and back. I guess the ‘no bag fees’ is taking a bite in their customer service training and hiring….
Unbelievable…But what do you expect from an airline that started in Texas?
She was booted off because she got belligerent and combative NOT because she was kissing. When a flight attendants asks you to do something, you do it. Plain and simple. That goes for any airline. If people were complaining, the activity was obviously ongoing, not a simple smooch. If flight attendants are asked by other passengers to check any inappropriate behavior, they are required to do so. Get off the back of the airline for pete’s sake. This was not a matter of a simple smooch; it was snogging and it bothered enough people that the flight attendant has to get involved. I am starting to get sick of this “gay” card that is being played these days.