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Fans are expressing outrage after Sandy "Pepa" Denton, a member of the iconic rap duo Salt-N-Pepa, was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight on Monday morning. The incident occurred on a flight from Las Vegas to Nashville, where Pepa was headed for a meeting. According to TMZ, the rapper was deemed a safety risk by the airline and subsequently ordered off the flight.
The news quickly spread across social media, fans and followers commented on the situation,
"Southwest should not be allowed to escape this, and the woman covering her face should be FIRED! @southwestair," a user commented.
Social media responses poured in quickly after the incident. Social media responses poured in quickly after the incident. User reactions from confusion over seat allocation policies to concerns about fair treatment for all passengers, celebrities included.
Pepa's account of the incident emerge
The Salt-N-Pepa rap legend shared with TMZ Hip Hop that she was traveling from Las Vegas to Nashville for a meeting—a route she often takes because it is the only direct flight available. Due to a previous knee injury from a 2018 car crash, the rap legend paid for two seats and used the services of a greeter for wheelchair assistance.
Once on board, a flight attendant informed her that she could only occupy one seat because she wasn't in a cast, even though she was wearing a knee brace. After some back-and-forth, the flight attendants allowed her to keep the extra seat.
However, shortly after settling in, a man arrived and asked the rap legend to give him her second seat, claiming he was headed to a funeral. While explaining to the passenger that the extra seat was for her injury, other passengers began debating whether she should give up the seat or keep it since she had paid for it.
Pepa called her assistant and suggested recording the incident, but a few minutes later, she was removed from the flight without an explanation. Once off the plane, Southwest informed her that she was removed for recording, despite her claim that no recording took place inside the plane.
Despite the disruption, Pepa managed to reschedule her meeting in Nashville and was reimbursed $2,500 by Southwest for her two seats. However, she was out $300 for the greeter service and $500 for a car service she couldn't use.
On Instagram, she posted a video discussing the incident with Southwest employees, expressing her disbelief with the caption,
"I can’t believe @southwestair kicked me off the plane today. WOW!!! #southwest. ⚠️ Video took a second to load due to the jetway WiFi. So just be patient for it to play or fast forward. ⚠️”
Southwest Airlines told TMZ Hip Hop that their initial reports indicated Pepa did not follow crew instructions, leading to her removal to ensure the safety and comfort of other passengers.
Pepa has indicated she is exploring legal options regarding potential ADA violations against travelers with disabilities.
