A Houston doctor is speaking out after her experience on an American Airlines flight. Dr. Tisha Rowe took to social media to share that before she boarded a plane from Jamaica to Miami she was forced to “cover up” her romper because it was deemed inappropriate.
Dr. Rowe says she was asked to leave the plane on her way to her seat and was told she couldn’t board again dressed the way she was. She ended up having to wrap a blanket around her waist in order to board the aircraft. Rowe was traveling with her 8-year-old son, who she says was distraught over what went down.
Tisha tweeted on June 30th, “So #AmericanAirlines just told me I couldn’t board the flight without putting a jacket over my ASSETS. My shorts covered EVERYTHING but apparently was too distracting to enter the plane. I guess that’s why they are AMERICAN airlines.”
So #AmericanAirlines just told me I couldn’t board the flight without putting a jacket over my ASSETS. My shorts covered EVERYTHING but apparently was too distracting to enter the plane. I guess that’s why they are AMERICAN airlines 🤷🏾♀️.... @AmericanAir
— Tisha Rowe MD, MBA (@tisharowemd) June 30, 2019
Following the situation, Tisha posted a photo of what she was wearing during the humiliating confrontation.
Here is what i was wearing when @AmericanAir asked me to deplane for a talk. At which point I was asked to “cover up”. When defending my outfit I was threatened with not getting back on the flight unless I walked down the aisle wrapped in a blanket. #notsofriendlyskies pic.twitter.com/AYQNNriLcq
— Tisha Rowe MD, MBA (@tisharowemd) July 1, 2019
Yes I walked down the aisle with an @AmericanAir mandated blanket on my ass. No my cheeks were not out. Yes I have a huge ass. I also have 3 degrees and own an international #Telemedicine company. Yes I am humiliated. #bigbootyproblems #somedocs
— Tisha Rowe MD, MBA (@tisharowemd) June 30, 2019
I just really want to know has #AmericanAirlines done this to anyone else or is my ass just that distracting. I’m disgusted. The only power I have is my voice so I’m going to use it...
— Tisha Rowe MD, MBA (@tisharowemd) June 30, 2019
I’m tweeting so I won’t cry. Seriously. My heart hurts. He told someone on this trip “random fact about me I can’t stay still for 10 minutes” he hasnt said a word since we boarded the flight. #americanairlines
— Tisha Rowe MD, MBA (@tisharowemd) June 30, 2019
According to The New York Times, Tisha said of the incident: “Had they seen that same issue in a woman who was not a woman of color, they would not have felt empowered to take me off the plane. In pop culture, especially black women with a body like mine, they’re often portrayed as video vixens. So I’ve had to deal with those stereotypes my whole life.”
The Times also reports American Airlines has issued an apology to Dr. Rowe, and offered her a refund. Airline spokesperson Shannon Gilson stated, “We were concerned about Dr. Rowe’s comments, and reached out to her and our team at the Kingston airport to gather more information about what occurred. We apologize to Dr. Rowe and her son for their experience, and have fully refunded their travel. We are proud to serve customers of all backgrounds.”
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