Woman Accuses Female Pilot Of 'Mansplaining' The United Leggings Controversy
By Mark PygasUpdated Nov. 18 2019, 2:20 p.m. ET
Brianna Wu is a video game developer running for Congress in Massachusetts' 8th District. Like many people, she took to Twitter on Sunday following the controversy surrounding United Airline's decision to prevent two young girls from boarding a flight because they were wearing leggings.
United justified the strict dress code enforcement because the fliers were United pass travelers and were subject to a different set of rules. Why? Because they're dependents of United Employees, or United Employees themselves, who can board planes for free on a stand-by basis.
Wu was one of many that threatened to boycott the company following the controversy.
Hey @united. I ALSO fly a lot, your airline does not meet my policy on NO WEIRD SEXUALIZATION of 10-year-old girls. No more business! ^BW pic.twitter.com/XlJZuJP4PM
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) March 26, 2017But some of her followers defended the airline, including pilot Quincy Fleming who pointed out that most airlines enforce strict dress codes on people travelling for free.
@Spacekatgal I despise dress codes in general because it has to do with what women and girls wear, but this is pass travel.
— Quincy Fleming (@QuincyFleming) March 26, 2017@Spacekatgal I have pass traveled all my life and the dress codes are evenly enforced, known by all, and a *negotiated contractual benefit*
— Quincy Fleming (@QuincyFleming) March 26, 2017Wu responded to Fleming in tweets that have since been deleted. Pro Publica's tweet archiving website Politiwoops archived the exchange.
The problem with Wu's accusation of mansplaining? Fleming is a woman.
@Spacekatgal I'm a woman.
— Quincy Fleming (@QuincyFleming) March 26, 2017Fleming wrote in further tweets that Wu has since blocked her.
I am a woman, but she assumed I was a man because I am a pilot and I have a non gender specific name. 2
— Quincy Fleming (@QuincyFleming) March 27, 2017People were pretty amused by the screw up.
@QuincyFleming is my spirit animal right now. pic.twitter.com/Mbrwci2ks5
— Angel/Kitty (@_HaikusGoddess) March 28, 2017@HashtagGriswold I wonder if @Spacekatgal legs are tired from all of the conclusions she jumped to in responding to @QuincyFleming.
— Greg (@who__dat) March 27, 2017It is freaking hilarious. I'm not exactly a poster child for the right here.
— Quincy Fleming (@QuincyFleming) March 27, 2017This seems like an honest mistake, but you do have to admit, it's hilarious.
Scroll down for United Airlines' full statement about the leggings controversy:
"We care about the way we present ourselves to you, our customers, as we believe that is part of the experience on board our flights. One of the benefits of working for an airline is that our employees are able to travel the world. Even better, they can extend this privilege to a select number of what we call 'pass riders.' These are relatives or friends who also receive the benefit of free or heavily discounted air travel — on our airline as well as on airlines around the world where we have mutual agreements in place for employees and pass riders.
When taking advantage of this benefit, all employees and pass riders are considered representatives of United. And like most companies, we have a dress code that we ask employees and pass riders to follow. The passengers this morning were United pass riders and not in compliance with our dress code for company benefit travel. We regularly remind our employees that when they place a family member or friend on a flight for free as a standby passenger, they need to follow our dress code.
To our regular customers, your leggings are welcome."
More from Distractify
Woman Tries to Lowball a Wedding Caterer for a 200-Person Wedding, Gets Promptly Shut Down
13 Hilarious Engagement Shoots for People Who Hate Engagements
The Most Savage Wendy’s Twitter Roasts of All Time
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKyimrultc2gZmtoYWx8cX%2BOa29op2asvZV7xZ6kmqSVYr2quM6tZKaZnqi9ra3Ip6Cnnw%3D%3D