A plane passenger has caused a stir online after refusing to swap seats so a family could sit together. The viral TikTok video has since sparked a debate over travel etiquette and what you should do to try and help others. A TikToker from the US who goes by the name Maresa Friedman filmed herself while on a plane with the caption: "I am not a villain for not moving from the seat in first class I paid full fare for, I'm also a mom so it's called planning ahead."
The video, which has since gathered over 1.4million views, has been hit with both support and criticism, with some viewers saying she was well within her right not to give up her seat. In a second video, Friedman explained in more detail why she refused to move from her seat. She says that a family of four asked her to swap her seat for one of theirs so that they could all be seated together in a row, Insider.com reports.
"Why is it on everybody else to accommodate, like, if this was something different like, 'oh we're on the bus and we have to give up a seat for a couple stops,' yeah sure," Friedman went on. "I'm not a villain."
Friedman didn't specify whether the family was asking her to move to a different seat class, but she finished her video by commenting: "If you buy basic economy tickets, you should have zero expectations of sitting together." One user, who works as a flight attendant, supported Friedman's actions, saying: "I do not think it's right to ask other passengers or pressure other passengers or expect other passengers to give up their seats to seat a family together because nine times out of 10, it's poor planning on the family's part." Another added: "I have been yelled at, cursed at, told that I am an unkind person because I refuse to move my seat.
"I'm not being unkind but I booked my travel just like you booked your travel, and you should have picked your seat." Others, however, were not so sympathetic. In fact, one user, in particular, took her to task and filmed his own response.
"Who cares if you move your seat so a family can sit together, but you're going to be so elitist, you're like, 'No I got my seat,'" said user Brian Pakpour. "Let's do better, people!!! Compassion is never wasted." Users then jumped into his comments, with some saying the family should've planned ahead. Prompting another video, Pakpour said: "When you make a video asking people to be more compassionate to their fellow travelers so they fill your comments section with hate."
Friedman then also responded to Pakpour in a post on October 26, which had an on-screen caption that read: "You being triggered is you interpreting my behavior as elitist is actually not compassionate." She also added that one reason why she wanted to keep her seat is that she has a disability, adding: "I hope this made you feel amazing!" Pakpour had not publicly addressed Friedman's comments about his video. In a statement to Insider, he said: "The original video never mentioned this individual being disabled, so that changed the hypothetical significantly. "If you're disabled, and you bought that seat, and it's a hardship to change, of course, you shouldn't be villainized for refusing to change."
Pakpour added that his TikTok "was less about her video than the comments in her video," many of which he said supported Friedman's viewpoint. "I just wish we as people were more compassionate about the needs of others," he added. In another TikTok video posted later on October 26, Friedman addressed anyone who responded negatively to the online debate. "If you're triggered, this is a you thing," he retorted. "If it stirred up enough in you to write angry commentary to me, or to fight with other people in the comments, you might need to look at that.
