Kevin Smith Tries to Put Seat-Gate Behind Him

By Dino Sossi Posted Feb 16th 2010 02:30PM

Despite having a nickname like Silent Bob, Kevin Smith sure has a lot to say about his problems losing a seat on Southwest Airlines, according to his blog.

"Lots of folks still telling me to stop crying and lose weight -- as if that's what this was all about," writes Smith, commenting on what many believe to be the instigating factor in his ejection from a recent flight. "Easier to tell the lie about the whiny Fatso than the truth that someone at Southwest f***ed up."

Smith was removed from his flight Saturday by Southwest Air personnel after they determined his weight might compromise the comfort of other passengers. Smith, however, claims he was securely buckled into his seat with the armrests down at the time.

Although Smith doesn't seem the type to take derisive comments about his body too seriously, the way that the incident was handled, both during the flight and after, has pushed him to a boiling point. A representative from Southwest reportedly explained to Smith that the problem was not about his weight, specifically, but was instead in keeping with the airline's policy of requiring passengers who cannot fit comfortably in one seat to purchase another. According to the LA Times, Southwest is one of many airlines that maintains such a policy.

Smith's problem was reportedly compounded by the flight's pilot, who wanted all outstanding issues that could delay the flight resolved so they could depart. Southwest's representatives claim the pilot had nothing to do with Smith's ejection.

However, Smith identified an inconsistency: "But if that's the case, then who made that call to yank me? ... Someone had to actually point a finger and say 'Him. He goes.'"

Smith was pleased with his treatment by Southwest's representatives, but requested a full apology. Elaborating further on his blog, Smith wrote: "So I swore to Linda (one of the reps), up and down 'Get me a document to sign, and I'll swear on my child's life and penalty of all I own that I'll never sue your Airlines. But just PUT THE F***NG TRUTH OUT THERE THAT I'M NOT TOO FAT TO FLY, AND THAT THIS WAS ALL AN UNFORTUNATE ERROR ON SOUTHWESTERN'S PART.'"

Smith was also upset about Southwest's public handling of the incident. In response to the airline's statement, Smith said, "But the last paragraph is still all about your two seat rule ... By including it, you guys are still saying I was Too Fat To Fly ... I don't want your money, I just want you to put in print what you told me: that I was grabbed because I was the last guy on, not because I didn't fit with the arm rests down, or because I couldn't buckle the seat belt."

The director remains upset by the possibility that this incident will follow him around in perpetuity. "Now I'm gonna carry this Too Fat To Fly s**t around like herpes for the rest of my life, and it was never even true."

Smith ends his post with a scathing quote from the movie 'Jaws,' taking one last swing at Southwest: "'Well it proves one thing, Mr. Hooper,' says Quint, the veteran shark hunter. 'It proves that you wealthy college boys don't have the education enough to admit when you're wrong.'"

Smith, 39, shot to fame as writer, producer and director of the independent feature 'Clerks,' which he shot for $27,575 in the convenience store where he worked. His other films include 'Dogma,' 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' and 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno' with Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. His latest film, 'Cop Out,' starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, opens in theaters February 26.

Tags: Cop Out, kevin smith

Comments

(6)

Tuesday 16 February

By leroy

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There are way fatter people than Kevin..I think he`s just milking this for some publicity..UH UH UH FIRST AGAIN DOGG...LEROY IS # 1 AND YOU`RE NOT..WHAT ?? WHAT ??

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DAMN..the spammer beat me to first..but the workdays not over yet..UH UH UH

By genagirl

None of this would be a problem if airlines would give passengers MORE ROOM! They want to shoehorn everyone into limited space so they can sell more seats and make more money. Just give us more room, you morons.

By Lisa

Whatever...... Mr. Smith may heve been "securely buckled in with the seat belt on", but it was bis butt, not the belt holding him in the seat!
He may not have been the largest person on the plane, but PLEASE, don't try to tell me he wasn't overlapping a fair share on both sides. I wouldn't want to fly 4 or 5 hours with my arms tucked in at my sides,rubbing arms and shoulders, sharing every movement with him. Eewww....
The issue, however, should have been managed pre-flight. If a customer appears oversized for the seat, there should be a discreet area for them to try one on, so to speak. There might be arguments, but less the public humiliation.
OR, airlines could design seats for someone larger than 5'8" and 150#--but there would always be someone bigger.......
Kevin is playing this for all it's worth. He needs to suck it in and suck it up.

By Rod

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Mr. Smith's Problem here is more related to the manner this was handled and not merely simply being called "fat".

Friday 19 March

By Blah

So they are supposed to spend millions building a new plane because he is a fat pig....you want to ride a normal plane eat like a normal person or buy your own.

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