Woman Says Thank You to Hero After Being Called 'Smelly Fatty' on Plane
Like so many women around the world, Savannah Phillips struggles with body image. The Oklahoma wife and mother battles negative thoughts about herself daily, thoughts that have trickled down into her behavior.
On May 14, Phillips boarded an airplane for a flight to Illinois. She ended up sitting next to a man in his 60s, wearing sunglasses, who told her he was a comedian.
“I’m not the biggest person on the airplane, but I’m not the smallest,” Phillips explained on social media. “My worst nightmare is someone being uncomfortable because they have to sit next to me.”
And the “comedian” was indeed uncomfortable sitting next to Phillips. To her horror, Phillips watched as the man held up his phone and began to text that he was sitting next to a “smelly fatty.”
“I was shocked and it was like (a) confirmation of the negative things I think about myself on a daily basis,” Phillips admitted. “Before I knew it, I could feel hot, salty tears coming down my face.”
Phillips couldn’t bear to read the rest of the man’s text, but the passenger behind them read the whole thing. As anger rose up inside him, the passenger decided to stand up for the “smelly fatty” he’d never met.
The man, later identified as Chase Irwin, stood up out of his seat and tapped the comedian on the shoulder. “We’re switching seats right now,” Phillips heard him say.
Irwin confronted the rude man, saying he was not going to put up with the man’s cruel remarks. The men switched seats, and Irwin sat down next to Phillips, who was still silently crying.
Irwin, a father and manager at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Nashville on Broadway, encouraged Phillips not to worry. They turned the conversation to their families, making pleasant small talk for the duration of the flight.
Phillips was so moved by Irwin’s kindness, she took to social media to share her story. She considers Irwin a hero and hopes others will see the importance of standing up for one another.
Irwin later told WTVF-TV he considered waiting until the end of the flight to speak up, but he couldn’t bear to watch Phillips endure the flight next to someone so mean.
“It really gets to me deep down when I see someone crying, and when I saw her crying it really hit me hard and actually got sick to my stomach,” Irwin said.
Phillips felt immensely blessed and thankful for Irwin’s presence on her flight that day. “I hope it sets a good example for others for what they should do in situations like that and to stick up for people when they need help,” she said.
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