Brazilian model is prevented from boarding a flight for being “too fat”

Last Tuesday (22), the plus size model and digital influencer Juliana Nehme claimed to have been a victim of fatphobia on Qatar Airways, in Lebanon. According to her, the airline prohibited her from taking a trip to São Paulo because she was “too fat”.

In a series of videos posted on Instagram, the model, visibly shaken, says that she was barred from boarding the connection from Lebanon to Doha, in Qatar, — and later flying to São Paulo, in Brazil — because of her weight:

“The Qatari stewardess said I can’t board because I’m too fat and I don’t have the right to this ticket. It’s me, my mother, my sister and my nephew. We paid $4,000 for these tickets. Now, she simply refuses to give me the tickets and let me board the flight to Doha and from there to São Paulo because I’m fat. What am I going to do?”, she blurted out.

Juliana also said that the company claimed that she would have to buy an executive ticket for US$3,000 or two ordinary seats to “fit in the seat” and continue her journey, paying a fine for not having boarded on the scheduled date.

“I never in my life imagined going through everything I went through here. I’ve gone through fatphobia several times, but I never imagined going through it”, shared the model.

Without being able to solve the problem, the influencer who is still in Lebanon accompanied by her family, remains waiting for a solution, with the support of the Brazilian Embassy in the country to be able to return:

“I managed to speak with the Brazilian ambassador in Lebanon today and he is helping me in every possible way. He spoke with Qatar, but she won’t give up. (Before) they said I would have to pay an extra ticket and pay the fine. Today with the ambassador they said that I need to buy two extra tickets for myself and pay a fine from my mother. They don’t come to an agreement.”

“The ambassador is doing everything he can to help us, but he said it is very difficult. Regarding the legal part, as the ticket was bought here in Lebanon, Brazil cannot do anything. Everything is stuck, only Qatar can do something.”

In a note, Itamaraty confirms that it is providing support to the model:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut, is in contact with the national and provides the appropriate assistance to the Brazilian citizen, in accordance with the international treaties in force.”

Despite the embarrassment, the model also thanked the support she has been receiving on social networks:

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the affection and all the fight for a fairer world, without prejudice or fatphobia”,

Sought by CNN, Qatar Airways did not comment until the last update of this report.

*Supervised by Giulia Alecrim