By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-15 17:50:18 | Updated at 2025-01-19 12:23:02
3 days ago
A Texas man has been booted off a Spirit flight for wearing an 'obscene' hoodie, as shown in a chaotic video posted online.
John Garcia Jr, who has identified himself online, was wearing a black pullover emblazoned with the words 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR'.
The video shows the father-of-four from San Antonio remonstrating with airline staff before being escorted off the plane.
Garcia was first confronted as he started to place his luggage in the overhead locker. A female flight attendant approached him to ask if he was in the right seat.
The passenger confirms it was his seat, but several minutes later, the flight attendant returns and says something to him.
Garcia said she told him to remove his hoodie because of the 'obscene language'.
'It caught me like totally by surprise,' Garcia told the San Antonio Express-News. 'Like, 'Man, are you serious?''
The clothing brand, called Fvck What You Heard or FWUH, doesn't promote any particular political message.
A Texas man has been booted off a Spirit Airlines flight for wearing an 'obscene' hoodie
John Garcia Jr, who has identified himself online as the passenger in question, was wearing a black pullover emblazoned with the words 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR'
Garcia was first confronted as he started to place his luggage in the overhead locker
It outlines its mission as being: 'To fashionably poke FUN at Pop Culture, Current Events and other everyday ordinary B***-ISH!, while proudly boasting a BIG FAT middle finger to YOUR feelings!'
Garcia refused to remove the hoodie at first. The flight attendant responded by telling him she was going to report him to the captain.
A security guard and male flight attendant then joined in, telling Garcia he had to remove his hoodie or get off the flight.
Garcia demanded to know whether the garment violated the airline rules, but the flight attendant told him he had to accept what they were saying.
He eventually departed the plane, and got a rescheduled return to San Antonio. Garcia said he wore the same hoodie on this flight without any problems.
The passenger said the chaos came on the first flight after a woman on the plane complained about his attire to a flight attendant.
Another passenger who filmed the disagreement blasted her as a 'Karen' who he said called out Garcia unfairly.
'Some Karen on the plane from LA to San Antonio on spirit didn't like this guys hoodie 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR',' he wrote on social media.
'The flight attendants asked him to remove it and he did but the Karen said she didn't like his attitude and booted him.
'What's this world coming to SMH his shirt literally is anti hate and he got hated on. This guy was so chill and was flying first class.
'Please Share it so this guy can hopefully get the video of them blatantly violating his freedom of expression! Then they put a flight attendant in his seat.'
John Garcia Jr, who has identified himself online as the passenger in question, was wearing a black pullover emblazoned with the words 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR' on the flight
A section of Spirt Airlines' Contract of Carriage discusses that certain clothing can get passengers kicked off a flight
'We are aware of the video, and our team is investigating,' Spirit Airlines said of the incident
Garcia has vowed to take legal action against the airline - but it's unclear what his argument would be. 'Just spoke to a lawyer and I got something cooking,' he wrote.
Spirit Airlines has a 'Contract of Carriage' outlining a dress code for passengers.
'Our Contract of Carriage, a document all Guests agree to upon making a reservation with us, includes certain clothing standards for all Guests traveling with us,' the airline said.
The dense document outlines what is expected of passengers on their flights and who or what can be denied from flying.
It goes through the definitions of airline phrases, fare details and cancelation policies. This contract was last updated on August 14.
But the long and hardly-read contract includes a brief section about passengers onboard clothing.
A part of the 'Conduct/Condition' section states that someone 'shall not be permitted to board the aircraft or may be required to leave' if they are 'barefoot or inadequately clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene, or offensive in nature'.
Spirit Airlines released a statement about Garcia's incident specifically.
'We want all our guests to feel welcome and have a great experience while traveling with us,' the airline said in a statement to the San Antonio Express-News.
'We are aware of the video, and our team is investigating.'
