Flyer Who Refused to Give Up Seat to Crying Child Sues Airline, Passenger Who Filmed Her
Jeniffer Castro, the Brazilian woman who went viral for refusing to give up her window seat to a crying child, has officially filed lawsuits against GOL Airlines and the passenger who filmed her.
Castro, 29, became the center of an internet firestorm after the December incident, with the video leading to online backlash but also boosting her Instagram following to 2.1 million, landing her influencer deals.
She says the lawsuits seek compensation for the distress and damages caused, aiming to prevent similar public shaming in the future. “Since that incident, my life has taken a turn I could never have imagined,” she said. “I was the target of judgments, attacks, and speculation from people who don’t even know the full story.”
Castro claims the child was sitting in her pre-selected window seat, and she expected him to move. When someone began filming her reaction, the situation escalated. “What surprised me was the fact that a person who had nothing to do with the situation started filming me without permission, insulting me, and trying to publicly embarrass me simply because I didn’t want to change seats.”
The video’s viral spread caused severe consequences for her mental health and career. “I was a banker. At the height of the repercussions, I practically didn’t leave the house,” she revealed.
Now, she’s taking legal action to set a precedent. “No one deserves to go through what I went through,” she said. “This lawsuit is about setting a limit on this type of behavior.”
Despite the backlash, Castro stands by her decision. “We live in a society where ‘no’ is often seen as rude or selfish, but this needs to change,” she said.
She remains focused on rebuilding her life and advocating for personal boundaries as she awaits the lawsuit’s outcome.
GOL Airlines declined to comment.
Video credit to the original poster and daily mail for the voiceover.
