When it all happened, she never expected a stranger to become involved and was apprehensive about everything that occurred. Clearly, she had been through enough, and even more than she should have. However, she was astonished once she learned the truth. What could this poor woman have dealt with? Here is her story.
Meet Savannah Phillips
Most people described Savannah Phillips as being highly passionate. She always did her best in motherhood and her career. However, a voice in her head always told her she wasn’t good enough, even with all that hard work she did in life.
Meet Savannah Phillips
When She Flew
When Savannah had to fly, she usually picked a seat within an empty row. However, the plane she was on now was full on this occasion, making her feel even more nervous about this trip she had to embark on!
When She Flew
Low Self-esteem Troubles
Savannah struggled with her weight and had done so for most of her life. She had to endure incredibly hateful words for many years. Clearly, it affected her self-esteem, deteriorating it into nothing. Body shaming took a huge toll on her and her feelings.
Low Self-esteem Troubles
Fear of Flying
When Savannah had to fly, she only did so because of necessity; it wasn’t a pleasure. Her trips were solely for business purposes, and she had no choice but to book a flight. However, she often booked an entire row to give relief, but that couldn’t always happen.
Fear of Flying
The Packed Flight
As Savannah booked her ticket, she realized that the plane was full. However, she tried again on the day of the flight, hoping to get lucky. She arrived early at the check-in gate, but no one had canceled yet.
The Packed Flight
An Unpleasant Feeling
It seemed to her that her worst fears were coming true. She would have to endure a full flight. Savannah tried desperately to reason with the woman at the counter, but it didn’t help. There was no way around her terrible issue.
An Unpleasant Feeling
Time to Board
Savannah walked to the boarding gate and monitored the passengers she saw. In fact, she believed everyone was staring at her, which made her feel very uncomfortable. As she got to the gate, she was full of anxiety and wanted this to be over.
Time to Board
Growing Fear
It was now time to board the plane, but she felt the fear growing inside of her as the cabin filled up with people. Savannah tried calming herself down as she got to her assigned seat. Letting out a sigh, she sat by the window to look outside.
Growing Fear
An Older Man
An older man was in the aisle seat, and Savannah was sitting across from him. It was clear that he judged her based on her weight. In fact, he seemed to want to tell her how he felt about her appearance!
An Older Man
Typing a Message
This older gentleman chose to type a message. That’s not really a problem, but he made the font larger than normal and increased the screen brightness. He only did that so that Savannah could see what he was writing.
Typing a Message
A Shocking Discovery
Savannah received the message loud and clear, knowing what the old man thought of her. That’s exactly what he had hoped would happen. In fact, he angled the phone so that Savannah couldn’t help but see it. She was shocked to read what he’d written!
A Shocking Discovery
Hiding Her Tears
After seeing what he wrote, Savannah turned her head to look out the window. She tried to prevent the tears, but she was highly upset by what the man had put on his phone. However, she wasn’t the only one to see what that old man had done!
Hiding Her Tears
A Bully
Clearly, the old man knew what he wanted to do and succeeded. His views had been fully noticed, and Savannah now felt the same as she had in high school when classroom bullies would try to bring her down by saying cruel things.
A Bully
Saving the Day
Savannah was purposefully looking out the window, and someone tapped the older man on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a younger man claiming that he had to speak to the old gentleman immediately. Then, he asked to switch seats, and the old man complied.
Saving the Day
Chase Irwin Is a Hero
Chase took the seat next to Savannah and began talking to her. She was grateful this stranger had done a kind act for her. Words could not express her gratitude, so she shared her story on social media, writing a Facebook post about it.
Chase Irwin Is a Hero
The Facebook Post
The goal of the Facebook post was to reunite with the man who’d helped her on that flight. She explained her story and listed the events on Facebook. However, it was hard because she felt like she was reliving that horrible moment.
The Facebook Post
The Witness
She explained what the older man did and that Chase witnessed it all. In fact, she felt ashamed, but Chase saved the day by making the older man switch seats. That was a kindness Savannah needed at that time.
The Witness
A Viral Post
Savannah was truly shocked to see the responses to her post. Many people left encouraging comments and tried to tell her not to let that old man’s words get under her skin. Others praised Chase for his courageous act.
A Viral Post
Finding Chase
Facebook is a powerful tool because it helped Savannah get what she wanted. The users on the social media site figured out Chase’s identity. It turned out that he was the manager of Dierks Bentley’s Whisky Bar. Now, the media was involved in the story!
Finding Chase
The Reason
NewsChannel 5 interviewed Chase to find out his reason. In fact, he didn’t want praise or recognition for his actions. He was upset by what that man had done and only sought to help a crying woman. His goal wasn’t to gain internet fame at all!
The Reason
Watching the Event Unfold
It turns out that Chase saw how the older man acted toward Savannah and sensed that something was about to happen. He said there was no way he could let that man get away with his actions after witnessing the message written on the phone.
Watching the Event Unfold
The Message
The message actually shocked Chase, but what worried him more was the man actually writing it. Later, everyone found out the old man sent a message to his wife, saying he had to sit next to a “smelly fatty” who “flowed over his armrest” to make him sick.
The Message
Recording the Event
Chase then revealed that he had recorded the incident on Snapchat, which included the man typing that message and Savannah reading it. He wondered if he should confront the old man after landing, but he had to do something then so that Savannah wasn’t upset the entire flight.
Recording the Event
Against Discrimination
Chase explained that he disliked all forms of discrimination. He had to intervene once he saw what that older man did. However, he needed backup, so he talked to a flight attendant before he went ahead with his plans.
Against Discrimination
The Confrontation
According to Chase, he walked to the fat-shaming older man, demanding to switch seats with him. However, the guy was confused and asked why. In all actuality, the old man believed that Chase was giving him a better seat.
The Confrontation
Setting the Record Straight
Chase hoped to embarrass the old man for his rude behavior. Therefore, he said that the guy was heartless, informing him that Chase had read the message written about the crying woman. The old man was shocked, but Chase sat down before the response.
Setting the Record Straight
What Chase Said
Savannah shared her encounter with Chase later, saying she was encouraged not to let that old man get to her. Everything would be all right. Clearly, Chase was also upset about what this man had done to another human being.
What Chase Said
An Angel in Disguise
Savannah’s Facebook post received over 1,300 comments and 7,000 reactions. Chase ended up getting thousands of messages that praised him for his intervention. However, you might be wondering what happened to Savannah after this ordeal.
An Angel in Disguise
Forgiven
Savannah said that she forgave the man for what he did. In an interview, she claimed that she’s said and done things in life that wasn’t appropriate and that her Facebook post wasn’t written out of hate. She had pure intentions and only wanted to find her hero.
Forgiven
Remains a Stranger
Aside from the horrible confrontation on the airplane, Chase and Savannah haven’t spoken to the older man. She didn’t even know his name and doesn’t wish to learn it now. The goal of sharing her story wasn’t about him at all!
Remains a Stranger
Raising Awareness
Most of the credit for this story goes to Chase. He only reacted because of the kindness in his heart. Plus, Savannah ended up raising awareness about body shaming because of this story.
Raising Awareness
Not the Only One
The sad part here is this story isn’t the only one about body shaming. There are many of them, and most don’t end happily because there’s no Chase to rescue the day as there was for Savannah.
Not the Only One
Savannah’s Self-Esteem
We learned earlier that Savannah had always struggled with self-esteem. This is linked to the years of fat-shaming and bullying she experienced as a child. It’s hard to believe that the words of schoolchildren can have such a lasting effect on someone.
Savannah’s Self-Esteem
Bullying in School
Schools are a huge source of bullying, and studies have shown the effect it has on children. In fact, one study indicated that fat shaming at young ages could lead to long-term obesity. Bullying isn’t taken seriously enough, and that needs to change!
Bullying in School
The Older Man Bully
However, it seems that bullies never grow up if you listened to Savannah’s story. They just grow crueler with age. There’s absolutely no excuse for his behavior, and we can’t know what this storyline might have looked like if Chase wasn’t there to help.
The Older Man Bully
A Targeted Group
Sadly, it’s not just airplane passengers who partake in fat-shaming behavior. Airlines also promote it! There have been countless stories of overweight people who had to stand up during flights instead of sitting down.
A Targeted Group
It Gets Worse
Some airlines advocate for individuals to pay more money for their flights if they’re overweight. That could get out of hand quickly, but are those companies the only ones that plan for that or do it? Sadly, the answer is no.
It Gets Worse
Even More
The beauty industry plays a significant part in the self-esteem of everyone, but especially women. Did you know that some companies actually charge more to clients who are overweight? It’s a scary thought.
Even More
The Effects
All of those things play a part in how society views overweight people. This has a terrible impact on those who struggle with their weight, including physically and mentally. Most of them turn to food to lower their sadness levels and feel good for a brief moment.
The Effects
Posing a Problem
However, that poses a problem. Encouraging fat-shaming just leads to overweight people getting depressed and putting on more pounds. The cycle is never-ending. Fat shaming doesn’t encourage people to drop weight. It’s better to treat everyone with understanding and kindness.
Posing A Problem