Nelle Diala, a former flight attendant with Alaska Airlines, has been thrust into the spotlight after being terminated for filming a twerking video on an empty plane. The incident occurred at 6 a.m. while Diala awaited the captain’s arrival. She posted the video on TikTok, captioning it with "Ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you," intending it as a celebratory dance marking the end of her probationary period.
Diala expressed her pride in her career progress and was devastated by Alaska Airlines' decision to end her employment just six months into her contract. According to the airline, Diala "broke their social media policy," a violation that led to her dismissal. Diala contended that the punishment was "unfair" and suggested that there was an element of discrimination involved, given that her dance was "geared toward the urban community."
"I didn’t think that being so happy could turn into something like this," said Nelle Diala.
The airline maintains that all new flight attendants undergo probationary periods and are expected to adhere to high standards of conduct. An Alaska Airlines spokesperson commented, "While we don’t comment on personnel matters, we hold all flight attendants to high standards for conduct and guest care."
Diala defended her actions, stating she filmed the video to "wake myself and get myself hyped up for my day." She further questioned societal sensitivity, saying, "Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before."
Additionally, the former flight attendant used her earnings from Alaska Airlines to support her burgeoning lingerie and dessert businesses. Following her dismissal, a fundraising campaign was launched to assist her financially, raising $3,312 before it closed.
"I put on a proud face every time I stepped on that plane and for them to terminate me without giving me a chance, it just was unfair," Diala remarked.
Diala claims that Alaska Airlines' decision reflects broader issues of inequality, encapsulated in her hashtag "discriminationisreal." She further expressed frustration by stating, "So, of course, the company would like to embrace ‘all cultures’ but leave the minority girl from the ghetto OUT."
Leave a Reply