News Kevin Smith 'Too Fat' to Fly Southwest - Page 2

**luv** · 02-15-2010, 10:41 PM

http://www.people.com/people/article...344142,00.html

Kevin Smith 'Too Fat' to Fly Southwest

Kevin Smith, sitting on a second Southwest Air flight

Courtesy Kevin Smith

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Kevin Smith's most famous role is a guy who rarely speaks. But he's got a lot to say – much of it profane – after being kicked off a Southwest Air flight because he didn't fit comfortably into the seat.

"You [messed] with the wrong sedentary processed-foods eater!" Smith, whose next film, Cop Out, comes out Feb. 26, posted on Twitter.

It was one of many Tweets recounting the actor/director's humiliating expulsion Saturday from the Oakland-to-Burbank, Calif. flight. Southwest said in a statement airline officials had called Smith to offer their "heartfelt apologies," but also stated his removal was for the "safety and comfort of all customers."

Smith, 39, originally purchased two tickets "as he's been known to do when traveling Southwest," the airline noted, but when he decided to fly standby on an earlier flight, only one seat remained. Although he had been seated, he was asked to leave.

"If a customer cannot comfortably lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement," Southwest said.

Smith, who played Silent Bob in his Clerks movies and who has battled his weight for years – "I know I'm fat," he confesses – was given a $100 voucher and arrived in Burbank on a later flight. But he was in no mood to accept an apology.

"I broke no regulation, offered no 'safety risk' (what, was I gonna roll on a fellow passenger?)" he Tweeted. "I saw someone bigger than me on THAT flight! But I wasn't about to throw a fellow Fatty under the plane as I'm being profiled. But he & I made eye contact, & he was like 'Please don't tell...'"

After landing in Burbank, Smith wrote, "Don't worry: wall of the plane was opened & I was airlifted out while Richard Simmons supervised."

Smith added that while the ordeal was embarrassing, his "Jersey Girl training" (the 2004 flop starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) was helping him cope.

**luv** · 02-15-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante84

If you take up two seats, purchase two seats. If not, get the **** off the plane until you can fit. Same with movie seats, and any other place that your general laziness hinders a business and it's other customers.

Furthermore, if you are obese because of laziness, lack of motivation, and general overeating and neglect of your personal hygiene, you do not deserve disability benefits. You do not deserve to park closer to building entrances for no other reason that it enables your lack of exercise and encourages you to remain sedentary, in addition to the fact that you are not disabled - you are addicted.

If food addicts deserve benefits, then alcoholics and drug addicts deserve them as well.

*Please note that this statement excludes those who are disabled from actual causes, such as thyroid issues or non-food caused diabetes.

Wow. Feel better?

Hootie · 02-15-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

Wow. Feel better?

I know personally if I had trouble fitting in one seat on an airline I would buy two tickets...like I said...I hate flying Southwest or even on any airline because of my height...and I'm not really even that tall...I wish I had the money I'd buy a whole row for myself...I have to fly to South Carolina this Saturday and it's going to be brutal.

If I weighed 300+ lbs. I'd buy two tickets for myself or I'd drive.

Dante84 · 02-15-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

Wow. Feel better?

A little, yes. My own father is overweight and has dealt with obesity issues when he was younger.

I don't dislike overweight people; I could afford to lose some weight myself. However, I am not ignorant enough to demand benefits at the detriment of others when it is my own laziness that caused the issue. How selfish that would be.

**luv** · 02-15-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

I know personally if I had trouble fitting in one seat on an airline I would buy two tickets...like I said...I hate flying Southwest or even on any airline because of my height...and I'm not really even that tall...I wish I had the money I'd buy a whole row for myself...I have to fly to South Carolina this Saturday and it's going to be brutal.

If I weighed 300+ lbs. I'd buy two tickets for myself or I'd drive.

He originally had. He took an earlier standby flight, was seated, then asked to get off the plane.

**KcMizzou** · 02-15-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

I know personally if I had trouble fitting in one seat on an airline I would buy two tickets...like I said...I hate flying Southwest or even on any airline because of my height...and I'm not really even that tall...I wish I had the money I'd buy a whole row for myself...I have to fly to South Carolina this Saturday and it's going to be brutal.

If I weighed 300+ lbs. I'd buy two tickets for myself or I'd drive.

Quote:

Smith, 39, originally purchased two tickets "as he's been known to do when traveling Southwest," the airline noted, but when he decided to fly standby on an earlier flight, only one seat remained. Although he had been seated, he was asked to leave.

Just should have skipped the "stand by" flight, I guess... if two seats weren't available. Or crack open the wallet and pay first class on another airline. I'm sure he can afford it.

**luv** · 02-15-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante84

A little, yes. My own father is overweight and has dealt with obesity issues when he was younger.

I don't dislike overweight people; I could afford to lose some weight myself. However, I am not ignorant enough to demand benefits at the detriment of others when it is my own laziness that caused the issue. How selfish that would be.

I completely agree with you. You just really seemed to be blowing off some steam with that post...lol.

I guess I just never viewed Kevin Smith as being that big.

**Bearcat** · 02-15-2010, 11:12 PM

Guy buys two seats because he knows his weight is an issue, guy gets kicked off a flight because his weight is an issue... pretty dumb article. Yeah, SW shouldn't have let him on to begin with... but it's like buying a box of condoms, not using them, and then complaining when your gf gets pregnant.

Dante84 · 02-15-2010, 11:13 PM

The airline should have seats that can fit a bell curve of people, to be considered fair. If you are within that population, and are uncomfortable, don't fly their airline if you don't want to.

But if it is obvious that you can't fit because of your reasons caused by yourself, then how can you bitch?

If the height is an issue, or you are naturally large enough to not fit, well then benefits should be made available to you.

Silock · 02-15-2010, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

I completely agree with you. You just really seemed to be blowing off some steam with that post...lol.

I guess I just never viewed Kevin Smith as being that big.

He's got that "I'm slightly chubby" thing going on in the face, but then the "WHOA THATS A HUGE BITCH" thing going on in the middle.

02-15-2010, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante84

If you take up two seats, purchase two seats. If not, get the **** off the plane until you can fit. Same with movie seats, and any other place that your general laziness hinders a business and it's other customers.

Furthermore, if you are obese because of laziness, lack of motivation, and general overeating and neglect of your personal hygiene, you do not deserve disability benefits. You do not deserve to park closer to building entrances for no other reason that it enables your lack of exercise and encourages you to remain sedentary, in addition to the fact that you are not disabled - you are addicted.

If food addicts deserve benefits, then alcoholics and drug addicts deserve them as well.

*Please note that this statement excludes those who are disabled from actual causes, such as thyroid issues or non-food caused diabetes.

I agree with everything except the stupid disclaimer. That crap is completely unnecessary. If somebody has to invoke the "but I have a thyroid condition" card to make you feel small then they probably don't have a thyroid condition at all. They're just lazy like the rest of us.

Hootie · 02-15-2010, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

He originally had. He took an earlier standby flight, was seated, then asked to get off the plane.

well Southwest doesn't have assigned seating on their flights...and if I was the guy that ended up having to sit next to the obese 400 lb. guy who only bought 1 ticket (not saying he's that fat but I'm being extreme to make a point) I'd be upset and part of me would want a freaking refund at the end of my flight...

I had a 4 hour flight to Vegas a year ago or so and sat next to my roommate and we were literally sitting on top of one another (or so it seemed)...and he's 5'9 220 and I'm 6'2 210...

I could only imagine being crammed up next to a 400 lb. fatty...that would be a miserable, miserable experience...

It's like wearing a speedo to a public pool and being that fat...it's like some people let their appearances so out of control they just stop caring and don't care about anyone else either...

**KcMizzou** · 02-15-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

I completely agree with you. You just really seemed to be blowing off some steam with that post...lol.

I guess I just never viewed Kevin Smith as being that big.

He doesn't look like he did as Silent Bob anymore that's for sure. And obviously he's aware of it.

I'm in no position to throw stones, and hell I'm a fan (as you know...lol)

**KcMizzou** · 02-15-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

He's got that "I'm slightly chubby" thing going on in the face, but then the "WHOA THATS A HUGE BITCH" thing going on in the middle.

That's a great DVD, BTW... see it.

**luv** · 02-15-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

He does have a new movie coming out. "Cop Out" with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. It was supposed to be titled "A Couple of Dicks", but he was forced to change it. Kinda like how "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" turned into "Zack and Miri".

Tracy Morgan is on The Late Show. He mentioned it originally being "A Couple of Dicks".

Hootie · 02-15-2010, 11:17 PM

I mean, I go to the gym four days a week and would love to have access to a personal trainer or a personal chef or any of the number of things Kevin Smith could afford to better his condition...

02-15-2010, 10:41 PM
luv You think you can get by this? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $-1170000	Kevin Smith 'Too Fat' to Fly Southwest http://www.people.com/people/article...344142,00.html Kevin Smith 'Too Fat' to Fly Southwest Kevin Smith, sitting on a second Southwest Air flight Courtesy Kevin Smith * Facebook * Twitter * Yahoo Buzz * E-mail Kevin Smith's most famous role is a guy who rarely speaks. But he's got a lot to say – much of it profane – after being kicked off a Southwest Air flight because he didn't fit comfortably into the seat. "You [messed] with the wrong sedentary processed-foods eater!" Smith, whose next film, Cop Out, comes out Feb. 26, posted on Twitter. It was one of many Tweets recounting the actor/director's humiliating expulsion Saturday from the Oakland-to-Burbank, Calif. flight. Southwest said in a statement airline officials had called Smith to offer their "heartfelt apologies," but also stated his removal was for the "safety and comfort of all customers." Smith, 39, originally purchased two tickets "as he's been known to do when traveling Southwest," the airline noted, but when he decided to fly standby on an earlier flight, only one seat remained. Although he had been seated, he was asked to leave. "If a customer cannot comfortably lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement," Southwest said. Smith, who played Silent Bob in his Clerks movies and who has battled his weight for years – "I know I'm fat," he confesses – was given a $100 voucher and arrived in Burbank on a later flight. But he was in no mood to accept an apology. "I broke no regulation, offered no 'safety risk' (what, was I gonna roll on a fellow passenger?)" he Tweeted. "I saw someone bigger than me on THAT flight! But I wasn't about to throw a fellow Fatty under the plane as I'm being profiled. But he & I made eye contact, & he was like 'Please don't tell...'" After landing in Burbank, Smith wrote, "Don't worry: wall of the plane was opened & I was airlifted out while Richard Simmons supervised." Smith added that while the ordeal was embarrassing, his "Jersey Girl training" (the 2004 flop starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) was helping him cope.
Posts: 63,558

02-15-2010, 11:12 PM	#22
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $-855069	Guy buys two seats because he knows his weight is an issue, guy gets kicked off a flight because his weight is an issue... pretty dumb article. Yeah, SW shouldn't have let him on to begin with... but it's like buying a box of condoms, not using them, and then complaining when your gf gets pregnant.
Posts: 59,457

02-15-2010, 11:13 PM	#23
Dante84 Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: ATX & OPKS Casino cash: $-1848004 VARSITY	The airline should have seats that can fit a bell curve of people, to be considered fair. If you are within that population, and are uncomfortable, don't fly their airline if you don't want to. But if it is obvious that you can't fit because of your reasons caused by yourself, then how can you bitch? If the height is an issue, or you are naturally large enough to not fit, well then benefits should be made available to you.
Posts: 20,447

02-15-2010, 11:17 PM	#30
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	I mean, I go to the gym four days a week and would love to have access to a personal trainer or a personal chef or any of the number of things Kevin Smith could afford to better his condition...
Posts: 56,356