Try as she might, the lady was unable to stop herself from crying. She had nobly kept her temper through all the torture, doing her best to look away. But her assailant’s cruelty was more than she could bear. That was when someone else joined in the drama. Throughout the entire horrible situation, she had never thought that someone else would get involved. She was initially wary, thinking that she was in for further punishment. Their true intention would shock her, however, and things were soon going to take a new turn.
The Man Who Would Not Stop Insulting The Woman Seated Next To Him In Flight And The Passenger Who Defended Her
The Lady Named Savannah Phillips
The woman question is called Savannah Phillips, who is best described by her friends as a passionate individual. Juggling work with parenting, she strives to make everyone around her happy. Although she had the kind of life which most people would commend her for, she could not stop her insecurities from coming through in her mind. Even the most successful and admirable people suffer from self-esteem issues, it would seem. Savannah was a sensitive soul, and she did not take criticism well.
The Lady Named Savannah Phillips
Flying Solo
If Savannah was ever forced to board a plane, it was her immediate concern that she should be seated completely alone. To her great horror, this particular flight would be entirely packed to the brim. Her anxiety began to flutter as she realized that she would be forced to interact with people. She was right to feel worried. This would be the kind of flight that would make anyone wish that they had taken the bus instead.
Flying Solo
Poor Self Image
Throughout her life, Savannah had done her best to fight weight gain. This had led to many cruel words from friends and strangers alike. Some had even believed that they were providing “constructive criticism”, but all they did was worsen her self-image. Americans are no strangers to the global obesity issue, with some of the highest rates in the world. Resorting to body-shaming is not the way to combat the situation, however. You can be assured that this kind of “help” will just exacerbate someone’s problems. But Savannah was sadly accustomed to this kind of toxic advice.
Poor Self Image
Let Me Off
Savannah was the last person to get on a plane for a holiday and even for work. But her job required her to travel more than she would have liked or felt comfortable with. Tight seats and limited space were her perfect nightmare, one she would have to live through this time. Still, her best way around the discomfort and fear of flying was to book seats with plenty of space around them. She could then breathe a bit more easily. You cannot run from your fears forever, however.
Let Me Off
No Room To Breathe
To her horror, Savanna discovered that the flight she had selected had been fully booked. She chose to give her strategy another chance when that fateful day finally came around. Prior to boarding, she begged the staff guarding the check-in gate if any passengers had failed to arrive. Her response was a sad shake of an agent’s head, who informed her that there was no hope. Savannah felt a sense of doom as her worst fears were confirmed.
No Room To Breathe
Not A Chance
Savannah had always struggled with full planes. She had found some luck in appealing to check-in staff to make an exception, who had felt sorry for her. But the person in charge on that day had refused to help her, saying that there were far too many people for her special case to be considered. Savannah tried her best to talk her way out of suffering through a humiliating experience, but it all fell on deaf ears. The plane was at its seating limit.
Not A Chance
Walking Down The Aisle
Savannah was filled with apprehension while making her way toward her boarding gate. It seemed like plenty of people were following her every move, and her mind and body became flooded with fear. All she could do was look down and tell herself that, “It’ll all be over soon.” But there was no way for her to ease the knot in her gut. She could not help dreading that she was in for one miserable flight.
Walking Down The Aisle
The Struggle
It quickly came to boarding time. As she climbed aboard, her eyes fluttered about the hundreds of people in their seats or looking for theirs. Savannah tried breathing deeply in an attempt to slow her heartbeat while walking toward her seat. To her horror, she realized that her seat was not only by the window, but was being blocked by someone seated in the aisle. It was a man, and when he stood to allow Savannah in, he sighed audibly with irritation.
The Struggle
Keep Staring
It was an older man, wearing vibrant, tacky sunglasses. He had immediately made his resentment for people like Savannah quite evident. We might not be able to properly express how hostile this elder was towards Savannah right from the beginning. His negativity was almost flowing out of him as he took to his phone to begin typing something. This might not have been out of the ordinary, but as Savannah would soon learn, nothing on this flight would be.
Keep Staring
Read ‘Em And Weep
The strange part about this message was that the man increased his phone’s font size to maximum and turned the brightness up to full. This was a petty attempt to ensure that Savannah read exactly what he was about to type. The man was being so extravagant with his insults that others around him had not failed to notice. When someone is insistent on being hateful, you can expect that their behavior won’t go on unnoticed.
Read Em And Weep
The Poorly Raised Old Man
Savannah, who always tried to see the best in people, asked the man if he needed help with something, seeing as he was insisting that she should see his phone activity. He politely responded that he was trying to make the screen clearer. Savannah was not stupid, however, and she watched him suspiciously as he rounded off his text. It was then that she realized what kind of underhanded comment he was trying to send her.
The Poorly Raised Old Man
Shameless Display
While Savannah was used to being the butt of others’ silent jokes, she could not believe that this person was doing his best to get her in on it. All that she could do was turn her head towards the window. She was crushed, and could no longer hold back the tears. But she was unaware that a man seated behind her was watching their every move. Who was this mysterious individual, and why was he so invested?
Shameless Display
Playground Antics
Savannah did not have to look twice to realize what this old man was up to. It was clear that whatever he had written out was plain as day. It was his sneaky plan that she should be able to read his meanness. Savannah was being taken all the way back to the playground, where the mean kids used to taunt her, and by an old man that should have known better. So, what was the horrible message? “Sitting next to a smelly fatty.” She could not handle such revolting cruelty, but shockingly for Savannah, she would be forced to endure further chaos.
Playground Antics
Swooping In
The old man was smiling with satisfaction when a furious tapping hit his shoulder. Startled, his head swiveled to be greeted by an angry individual, who demanded that they exchange words. Shocked, the old man stood up and was led to the back of the plane, all to Savannah’s confusion. Savannah’s apparent hero was called Chase Irwin, who informed the elder that they would be swapping seats immediately. The bully folded quickly, as bullies do when confronted by a stronger person, and Chase promptly took his place. That was when he struck up a conversation with Savannah.
Swooping In
The Saviour She Needed
Their friendship was almost immediately struck. Savannah struggled to express just how thankful she was. All that she got out of the mystery hero was his name and job description, however, and she learned that they both had kids. Savannah had a debt of gratitude to this gentleman, one which she planned on paying when they reached their destination. When she tried searching his name on Facebook, however, he was nowhere to be found. She then decided to upload a post where she wished to thank the brilliant man for his kindness and bravery.
The Saviour She Needed
I Need A Hero
Savannah’s message went as follows: “I am sharing this story of what happened to me today in hopes that the person who stuck up for me will somehow be recognized…” she explained. “We sat on the runway waiting for the OK to take off for about ten minutes – I was unable to stop silently crying.” Savannah found herself reliving the horrible and wonderful experience, and wished nothing more than to reconnect with her enigmatic savior
I Need A Hero
Make It Stop
She carried on with her incredible and life-changing story, however, saying that, “I was scrunching myself against the wall. The guy next to me says, “We will switch seats. Now.” The guy next to me said, “OK but why?” And I hear someone say, “You are texting about her, and I’m not putting up with that.” Just when Savannah thought that she was all alone, someone made the world of difference for her when she needed it the most.
Make It Stop
International Attention
While Savannah had initially intended to get her hero’s attention with this post, she could not believe how many people were reacting to it and sharing it far and wide. Plenty of kind strangers were praising her appearance and did their best to stop the old man’s comment from hurting her further. There was plenty of admiration expressed for Chase as well. Everyone clearly agreed that he deserved a reward or recognition for his service.
International Attention
Pinpoint Precision
Thanks to Facebook’s globally widespread presence, the masses involved with this hunt finally revealed Chase’s true identity. “Chase Irwin” had been located through a Nashville website for “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Bar and Restaurant”, which Chase happened to manage! As more people began learning about this case, so too did the honors continue flooding in. Beyond the world of social media, official news sources would soon catch wind of this heroic tale. But did Mr. Irwin have any idea that he was so famous?
Pinpoint Precision
Unexpected Reaction
But once Chase was actually tracked down by a media team, he was less than happy, telling NewsChannel 5 that he had not stepped in for fame. He simply could not stand by and let this woman be victimized. He had initially intended to speak his mind to the old man when the plane landed, but knowing that Savannah would have to endure his cruelty for hours on end was too much for him. Savannah having been brought to tears by the old man’s sadism shocked him into action.
Unexpected Reaction
Stand Up
Chase was able to step in thanks to his watchful eye which honed in on the scene right from the beginning. He was instantly aware of the old man’s animosity. He was rude to her as soon as she approached him. He was sitting there silently brooding, but upon seeing the rude text from behind the old man’s seat, that was when he snapped. He could never have predicted that his confronting of the bully would become a global sensation.
Stand Up
The Oblivious Hero
The rude man had called Savannah a “smelly fatty” and complained that all his personal space had been taken up by her. He even commented that he was going to vomit. Chase could not believe what he was reading. That was when he looked up to see Savannah reduced to tears – a truly heartbreaking sight. He couldn’t just sit and allow this heartless victimization to continue, he told Inside Edition.
The Oblivious Hero
Digital Justice
Chase did not just confront the man physically, he also resorted to Snapchat for some video evidence for all his followers to see. He reported what the old man had done as he filmed him secretly. He also captured Savannah looking heartbroken and commented on her misery too. He asked his followers if he should wait for the plane to land before standing up for Savannah, but as we well know, his courage took hold of him long before the flight’s conclusion.
Digital Justice
No Tolerance For Intolerance
Chase made sure that all the news agencies that interviewed him knew full well that he would not stand for discrimination. This old man’s intolerance of people with different body types from his was not going to fly with Chase. Some people will happily allow bullying to go on unchallenged, but not Chase, who decided to tell a flight attendant what he was going to do. With her blessing, he could finally confront the mean old man.
No Tolerance For Intolerance
Plan And Action
Chase then launched out of his seat and angrily tapped the old man on his shoulder. As the fat-shaming elder turned to whoever had touched him, he came face-to-face with the vengeful Chase, who angrily demanded that they switch seats. The old man might have thought that Chase was being respectful of his elders by offering him a better place to sit, but he could not have been more wrong…
Plan And Action
Diplomacy
Chase told the old man that he had no heart, and that he had seen exactly what he had done with his cellphone to deeply hurt an innocent woman out of sheer spite, and that he needed to practice a bit more empathy. The old man was speechless, and his jaw dropped. Chase shoved past the bully and plopped himself next to Savannah, who was equally shocked by this new development!
Diplomacy
Open To Discussion
As for Savannah’s side of the story, she was encouraged by Chase to avoid taking his meanness to heart and that she was going to be perfectly alright. Chase told her that he had witnessed their entire negative interaction and that he was enraged by the rotten boldness of a man old enough to know better. Anger is not a bad thing, as it sometimes gives us the courage that we need to stand up for others who cannot do so for themselves.
Open To Discussion
Elevated Position
This viral Facebook share from Savannah gathered over 1,300 shared and 7,000 replies! Chase would be brought into the media buzz too upon being located, with plenty of social media users showering him with gratitude and praise. His company also disclosed their admiration for their employee publicly. They were very happy that Chase’s sense of justice had reflected positively on the Dierks Whiskey Row brand! But what about Savannah? How has she developed since this dramatic episode?
Elevated Position
Let It Go
In one incredible interview, Savannah revealed that she was ready to forgive the old man. She had the kind of awareness that allowed her to recognize and admit that she had also said cruel things that she later wished she had not. She believes that responding to meanness with more meanness does not make you any better. She is a very strong believer in the power of love, and its ability to transform our planet.
Let It Go
Come And Go
That was the end of both Savannah and Chase’s combined interaction with the mean man, and neither will ever know his identity. Given how widespread this story became, we are sure that he is incredibly ashamed of himself. Savannah confirmed that, “And I really don’t want to know. I don’t want this story to be about him – my goal was for it to be about Chase and how we should all be brave like he was and stand up for others.”
Come And Go
Standing Up For Others
Chase must be given a proper commendation for his selfless act. Savannah was then given the inspiration to begin bringing body-shaming to public attention. This was not only a wonderful effort that saved Savannah from further ridicule, but it also helped to spread awareness on the broader matter. Savannah’s negative experience is one which so many others have also suffered through, and it is time that people realized just how damaging it is. All that it takes is for someone on the outside to step in. As for our next woman, let us find out how she achieved justice…
Standing Up For Others
The Shocking Event
Flying can be an unnerving experience, that is a given for plenty of passengers. Even those who have flown all over the world can still find boarding a plane an anxious process. Our next woman was used to flying frequently too, but this particular flight would introduce her to a new kind of negative interaction. She was desperate to get home, and by the time she entered her terminal, she could feel the homesickness like never before. She had one last obstacle to overcome before getting home, however, as she would soon find herself being prohibited from taking her seat and was rudely ejected off the plane! She was stunned, unable to rationalize what she could have done to deserve such treatment. She had always stuck to flying etiquette, and would never try to offend anyone. Her clothes, however, would rub some people the wrong way…
The Shocking Event
Rest And Relaxation
Harriet Osborne was 31 when she finally embarked on her desperately needed holiday to Southern Spain. Along with her friends, she had been anticipating this vacation for several months before the big day. They were dying for a good dose of Spanish Vitamin D and some clean air. Harriet had struggled to open up a couple of weeks for her to use for her vacation, but she had finally managed to clear her chaotic schedule for some “me time.” Everyone deserves personal time.
Rest And Relaxation
Clearing The Air
Harriet was a British citizen who worked as a makeup artist while being the best parent she could be. Her holiday had been organized to recuperate from the hectic demands of motherhood and employment. She badly needed to unwind and deal with her stress in a beautiful and carefree environment. After much time spent daydreaming of those golden Spanish beaches, she couldn’t believe that the time for action had finally arrived.
Clearing The Air
Dress To Impress
Harriet commented that she was a modest person, rarely having shown much in the way of skin back in chilly England. Her children had been spared any kind of extravagant outfits. Now that she was on her way to a stunning getaway, she thought that she could let her hair down and dress in theme. Given the radical change of scene, she just wanted to come out of her shell and live a little. That is what vacations are meant to do for a person, aren’t they?
Dress To Impress
Young And Free
Harriet felt a freeing kind of euphoria she had never experienced before. It was just her and her bikini now and the stunning beaches. There were no more prying eyes, no more judgmental voices. She knew that she could easily get used to this feeling! She could never have expected that this sense of freedom would be crushed in no time at all; that she would find herself crying with shame. But for now, she could enjoy the liberties of this wonderful new country.
Young And Free
Longing
There was nowhere else she would have rather been than those golden beaches, except for back with her beloved children. When her return trip dawned, she embraced the possibility of returning home gladly. Her family was hopefully missing her as much as she did them. Now that she had made the most out of her short but impactful break, she was ready to return to being a mother. England was calling, and she was ready to answer.
Longing
Refreshing
Harriet had discovered just how divine life could be, and what it truly meant to feel free and alive in a whole new place. Spain would always stay on her mind in the near future, and she hoped to return there one day to perfect her tan. This was the time off that any busy lifestyle needed from time to time. These two worlds were such opposing contrasts, but she could now see the benefits of each.
Refreshing
Natural Splendor
Costa del Sol is one of the English’s most beloved locales. The City of Malaga is one place where you will feel right at home with your countrymen if you are from the United Kingdom. Southern Spain is where you will find this European gem, and a quick Google will show you why so many people flock their yearly. It is a true sunny paradise, one that is highly affordable and accessible for nearby English people. Harriet had chosen wisely!
Natural Splendor
Secret Fears
Have you ever found yourself experiencing some mysterious kind of anxiety while on an otherwise blissful holiday? This is exactly what Harriet was suffering from while she and her friends partied on the beach. Some detail was out of place, but try as she might, she could not place her finger on just what. The drinks were flowing, the ocean was inviting her in, and the sun never seemed to stop shining. But something was prickling her nerves…
Secret Fears
Where The Heart Is
Harriet and her friends had ensured that their holiday destination would be as alien to the English citizens as possible. While England suffers the worst of its winter spell, Spain is thriving under its magnificent summertime. It was almost magical for the women to leave their snowy homes and enter perfect blue skies and high temperatures. This was an environment that England could never hope to achieve, and the women were intoxicated with this new kind of warmth and radiance.
Where The Heart Is
Time Waits For No Woman
Harriet was well aware that this vacation was only temporary, and that the day they would board their planes was on its way. On that last day, she was in her room packing her bags, delighted with the thought of holding her babies once more. Prior to leaving, she suddenly realized that a final sweep of the shops was needed, just in case she had overlooked some special items. She could easily squeeze in this last bit of fun.
Time Waits For No Woman
Treat Yourself
The ladies hailed a taxi and made their way to Av. De Andalucia where the luxury brands’ stores awaited them. They soon pulled into the opulent shopping district. They were then instantly dazzled by the phenomenal array of shops and it seemed difficult to choose one to actually enter. Harriet was so wrapped up in her exhilaration that she could have never guessed that her happiness would soon be reduced to ashes.
Treat Yourself
Poor Taste
El Corte Ingles was the first shop that the group decided to enter. It was there that Harriet spotted a gorgeous shirt on sale. This was a lacy and sheer black piece that had a shocking price tag. Was this really what luxury brands sold for? Harriet caught her breath and continued considering this risqué blouse. Her mind was racing, and she was coming incredibly close to splurging on it.
Poor Taste