Mother of one Ashley Copperstone was breastfeeding her one year old daughter at an airport terminal where she claims she was “harassed, followed and discriminated” by an American Airlines employee.
The incident happened as Ashley was boarding a flight from Grand Rapids to her home in Washington DC. Incensed by how she was treated by the American Airlines employee, Ashley took to social media to document her experience of being poorly treated for breastfeeding in public. She then immediately emailed American Airlines to file a complaint.
In an impassioned video posted to her Instagram page Joyful Hope Virtual Services, Ashley said it was a gate attendant who came over to speak to her whilst she was breastfeeding. The gate attendant advised her to cover-up as it could be making people uncomfortable. Further to that the gate attendant told Ashley “your whole breast is hanging out”.
The gate attendant told Ashley “your whole breast is hanging out”.
Breastfeeding discrimination by American Airlines?
Ashley didn’t take the encounter lightly. She accused the flight attendant of discrimination and acting illegally towards a breastfeeding mother. She asked for her name and told her she’d be filing and complaint again her – at which point the employee walked off.
It wasn’t long before Ashley followed through and emailed American Airlines with her complaint. In their reply American Airlines stated: “Our inflight procedures advise our crew to ensure that mothers breastfeeding their children have the privacy they need to ensure other customers are not subjected to an uncomfortable situation.” Ashley points out that she wasn’t breastfeeding on the flight when the incident happened – she was in the terminal. However, regardless of where she was Ashley acknowledges that she is entitled to breastfeed anywhere.
Ashley is willing to fight her case
For Ashley her ordeal meant she spent her entire flight home crying and being comforted by an “amazing” flight attendant. In her final social media video Ashley calls out American Airlines for their treatment of her saying, “shame on you.”
In her final social media video Ashley calls out American Airlines for their treatment of her saying, “shame on you.”
Speaking to boobingit Ashley says she is not letting the encounter get the best of her. She is willing to fight her case and has already retained a lawyer. “No one is going to ruin this journey for me and my daughter” says Ashley.