Fashion + Beauty

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

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Tattoo discrimination: Joel Madden not allowed on flight

Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Have you or someone you know ever been discriminated against for having tattoos? Recently I tried to set up two of my friends and while they got a long really well, she was totally turned off by his tattoos. His ink was actually a deal breaker!

On Saturday night, Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden was about to hop on a British Airways flight from London to Lisbon when he was ordered to cover up tattoos or cancel his trip.  "Was just told by a british air person I can't get on the plane till I cover my tatts," he twittered. "I really actually am in shock he won't let me on the plane till I put long sleeves on and other BA rep is disagreeing." Madden said he told the employee it was discrimination and that he would write a nasty letter.  "The guy was literally disgusted by me.”

In the end, Nicole Richie’s man put on a long-sleeved shirt and boarded the plane. "yes i covered up to board the BA flight," Madden wrote. "I didn't want to miss it. And honestly i was embarrrassed all the people were staring and laughing! its not in the rules that i can find.my tatts arent offensive. looking into it.” His lady was equally annoyed and explained on her own twitter, "all of @joelmadden 's tattos are spiritual. Since when is expressing your love for God & family against what British Airways stands for?"

United Airlines is now requiring overweight passenger to pay for an additional seat, while Southwest Airlines banned a college student from flying because they claimed her skirt was too short.

Are airlines unfairly and randomly discriminating against passengers? Are they allowed to pick and choose who should can and can't fly, even though there are no written rules about it? What would you do if you were Joel and told you couldn’t board a flight because of your tattoos? [E!]
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 97
  • mommaofsun's Avatar
    Posted by mommaofsun Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:00am PDT

    I would be ticked off. But, what can you do? If you pitch a fit about it, you get arrested and if you cover up and bite your tongue, you get to where you are going.

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  • Trish C's Avatar
    Posted by Trish C Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:04am PDT

    WHAT!? skirts too short? tattoos?? and these things affect the efficient running of a flight HOW??

    Report Abuse
  • opiniononly's Avatar
    Posted by opiniononly Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:06am PDT

    What do tats have to do with air safety?

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  • DLS's Avatar
    Posted by DLS Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:32am PDT

    WTF??!?! What gives! They're tattos! and a skirt being to short? That's just dumb. I think tattos are awesome. Major turn on.

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  • Melissa T's Avatar
    Posted by Melissa T Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:42am PDT

    I HATE tattoos and body piercings (except pierced ears). But the above posters are correct -- how would a tattoed young man interfere with the plane safely reaching its destination? That's just dumb

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  • 80'sgirl's Avatar
    Posted by 80'sgirl Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:45am PDT

    Yeah I agree with DLS tattoos are a major turn on, but I also agree with Mommaofsun what can we do? fight and get arrested?

    thats really weird though Tattoos? are a threat?

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  • rockin' mom's Avatar
    Posted by rockin' mom Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:51am PDT

    That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I LOVE tattoos!! I have 5 and wouldn't change it for the world. What a bunch of morons.

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  • EMILY's Avatar
    Posted by EMILY Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:23pm PDT

    I agree that all this seems wrong, but how would you feel if you were sitting sext to a lady that had a skirt so short that you could read what day it was on her panties? How many of us have sat next to someone so large that their thighs rested on top of yours? The tattoos seem a little iffy to me, but i wouldn't like to sit next to a guy wearing a tank top, having his sweaty skin all pressed up against mine. Who knows, maybe he stank badly.

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  • Rock-Addict says: SUOMI RULAA!!!!!'s Avatar
    Posted by Rock-Addict says: SUOMI RULAA!!!!! Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:24pm PDT

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH the author of this article can't even tell them apart!!!!!!!. Benji has WAY!!!!! more tattoo's than Joel!!!!!. I would have called over some one who could have fired the BA Rep. cause tattoo's last time I checked aren't illegal!!!!!!!

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  • Katie B's Avatar
    Posted by Katie B Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:53pm PDT

    Some people just find them disgusting... Some people like them in moderation... some people like/love them... it's all based on peoples preferences... as for the short skirt thing, to some people it can be quite distracting... I am sorry but when I go on a flight I don't want to see your stuff hanging out or having a great potential to hang out... In the same respect that people need to respect and understand people's right to dress however they want... the other side of that is that people also need to respect other people and what they may or may not want to see...

    It's all about comfort and respect of everyone... If I am uncomfortable to see a girl with a skirt that's too short than she is infriging on my right to not see it... She can still be "sexy" and comfortable without showing me the bottom of her butt... If a person is to big to fit into 1 seat whereas I can fit into one just fine... then they are infringing on my right to be comfortable and not share the seat that I paid full price for.

    The tattoo thing does seem a bit sketchy... But there may have been some people that expressed offense and discomfort and it was up to the flight attendant to address it... Regardless of how multicultural we are.. we all still come from many different cultures and beliefs....

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Comments 1-10 of 97

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