The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
A plus-size influencer has sparked a fierce debate on social media after insisting that larger people should not be afraid to ask for a seat belt extender on a plane.
Samyra Miller, from New Orleans, posted a 15-second clip to TikTok which showed her requesting the item from a member of the cabin crew.
But the 24-year-old’s video proved to be incendiary on social media as people on both sides of the debate rushed to comment.
Having seen the discussion erupt under her video, Samyra posted a follow up where she said that negative comments were just ‘viscous attempts to strip me of my humanity.’
Plus-size influencer Samyra Miller sparked a fierce debate on social media after insisting that larger people should not be afraid to ask for a belt extender on a plane
The 24-year-old posted a 15-second clip to TikTok which showed her requesting the item from a member of cabin crew
The influencer posted the video to encourage people to ‘never be afraid to ask for a belt extender on the plane’
In the first clip, Samyra can be seen wearing a face mask on board a plane before seeking out a member of the crew to ask: ‘Can I get a belt extender per chance?’
After just a couple of seconds the social media star is granted her request and begins to return to her seat.
And, in her caption, she wrote: ‘Pro tip: ask for it right when you board the plane so you don’t have to wait!
‘Now let me go spread out in my seat.’
The influencer posted the video to encourage people to ‘never be afraid to ask for a belt extender on the plane’ – and the post gained attention.
It has so far been viewed more than 5.9 million times and received more than 23,600 comments as social media users engaged in a furious debate.
On one side of the divide, dozens were supportive of the sentiment and thanked Samyra for sharing awareness that belt extenders exist.
One user wrote: ‘I hope this helps someone who has been anxious about asking for one or didn’t know they had that option.’
Having seen the discussion erupt under her video, Samyra posted a follow up where she said that negative comments were just ‘viscous attempts to strip me of my humanity’
Samyra’s initial video has so far been viewed more than 5.9 million times and received more than 23,600 comments as social media users engaged in a furious debate
Another added: ‘Oh I didn’t even know they had belt extenders, I love that and the fact that you’re teaching others I applaud you.’
And a third commented: ‘One more reason to love you. Thank you for showing people this option is available, apparently a lot didn’t even know.’
But there were those who said that this moment should have been a ‘wake-up call’ about her ‘unhealthy’ lifestyle.
One wrote: ‘It’s sad that now they have belt extenders.’
Another commented: ‘Is this not a reality check?’
And a third simply said that it was ‘not healthy’ and that she should not ‘normalize it.’
The two different camps then started turning on each other which left the comment section in disarray.
Given the fierce debate, Samyra, who has 1.5 million followers on the video-sharing platform, posted a follow-up clip a short time later.
She launched into a furious tirade as she spoke directly to camera: ‘Apparently there’s a lot of things that fat people don’t deserve.’
Hitting back at the criticism, she launched into a furious tirade as she spoke directly to camera: ‘Apparently there’s a lot of things that fat people don’t deserve’
On one side of the divide, dozens were supportive of the sentiment and thanked Samyra for sharing awareness that belt extenders exist
Referencing one particular comment that had been left under her previous post she said: ‘According to this person, we don’t deserve to fly.’
She then elaborated: ‘According to some clothing brands, designers, we don’t deserve to have clothes, to model clothes.
‘According to some popular dating shows, we don’t deserve to find love.
‘And, according to a lot of people, we don’t deserve to eat either.’
Samyra paused dramatically before continuing: ‘I can tell you what we do deserve. We deserve humanity.
‘And [under] the video that this comment is on, the video of me asking for a belt extender, the comments are full of viscous attempts to strip me of my humanity.
‘And I just wanted to let you all know, it’s not going to work. It’s not going to work.’
Speaking about the incident again on her Instagram page, where she has a more modest following of 118,000, she posted yet another video.
During her furious clapback video, Samyra also added: ‘I can tell you what we do deserve – we deserve humanity’
But there were those who said that this moment should have been a ‘wake-up call’ about her ‘unhealthy’ lifestyle
She said: ‘Thank you once again for proving my point once again. You know people… [justifying] leaving comments such as these by claiming to care about my health – fat people’s health.
‘However, the hypocrisy that has been displayed in the comment section of my video removes the mask of moral righteousness you like to hide under and exposes you for who you are – violent bigots who hate fat people.
‘And there is simply no rebuttal that would adequately conquer my analysis because you can’t claim to care about my health while in the same breath shaming me for needing a belt extender that is also designed for my health – for my safety.
‘So please remove the mask – spare us from this cheap masquerade ball.’
Samyra uploaded the clip alongside a caption that read: ‘All of this because I wanted to be safe on an airplane?
‘Belt extenders shouldn’t be ridiculed. Belt extenders shouldn’t bring shame. Fatphobia should bring shame. Fatphobia should be met with the same vitriol that fat people are met with when they advocate for themselves.’
