A recent incident at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has sparked intense discussions online about accessibility, discrimination, and personal responsibility. Plus-size influencer Jaelynn Chaney, 28, made headlines after protesting what she called “blatant discrimination” when airport staff refused to provide her with wheelchair assistance.
Chaney, who has over 140,000 TikTok followers, documented her experience in a viral video. Holding a sign that read “#WheelchairAccessForAll,” she claimed the airport violated her rights by denying her service due to her size. “This isn’t just about me,” she said. “Many plus-size travelers face this same discrimination, but we’re told we might ‘injure staff’ just by existing.”
The online response was sharply divided. While some supported Chaney’s stance, arguing that all travelers deserve equal access, others questioned whether wheelchair services should accommodate people without mobility impairments. “Wheelchairs are for those who physically can’t walk,” one commenter wrote. “If you can walk but choose not to, that’s different.”
Chaney has long been an advocate for “fat liberation,” previously campaigning for airlines to provide free extra seats for plus-size passengers. Her petition urging the FAA to mandate such policies has garnered nearly 40,000 signatures. However, critics argue that her demands place undue burden on staff and other travelers.
The debate raises deeper questions: Where should the line be drawn between accessibility and practicality? And who bears responsibility when accommodating larger body sizes poses physical challenges for service providers?
