“Wicked” star Marissa Bode is calling out an airline after a shocking travel ordeal she says left her grounded because of her disability. The 25-year-old actress, who uses a wheelchair after being paralyzed in a childhood car accident, took to TikTok to accuse Southern Airways of refusing to let her board a flight, alleging she was denied access due to her inability to climb stairs.
Marissa Bode claimed that when she approached the gate for a connecting flight to Pennsylvania, airline staff questioned her ability to stand before ultimately denying her entry. “I got to the gate and was like, ‘Hey, could you help me locate my boarding pass?’ And the two people at the gate look at me and they’re like, ‘Can you stand?’ And I said, ‘No.’ And they said, ‘I’m sorry, because of that we’re gonna have to deny you boarding,’” she claimed.
The “Wicked” actress said she was told all passengers must climb stairs to board the aircraft, something she pushed back on in the moment. “They proceeded to tell me all the planes within this airline have stairs to get on the plane. Wild. Never heard of that before… You’re telling me none of the people who have flown on your plane before are disabled?” the actress continued.
Bode Calls Out Airline For ‘Blatant Segregation’ In Heated Response
Bode didn’t hold back in her reaction, accusing the airline of discrimination and a lack of accessibility.
“This is blatant segregation,” she claimed before questioning why accommodations weren’t already in place, arguing that disabled passengers shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought. “Disabled people are not an afterthought. Why, knowing that disabled people exist, which y’all clearly often forget, do you choose not to update your planes?”
Airline Policy Under Scrutiny As Accessibility Rules Come Into Focus
Under the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines are prohibited from discriminating based on disability and are required to provide assistance boarding and deplaning. However, smaller aircraft, like those operated by Southern Airways, are not always required to have mechanical lifts, according to the airline’s policy.
Southern Airways states that passengers must be able to climb steps to board, though it notes ramps may be available at certain locations, but are not guaranteed.
Marissa Bode Says Airline ‘Shifted Excuses’ As Travel Ordeal Forced Costly Detour
Bode said the situation escalated further when airline staff reportedly shifted their reasoning to the weight of her wheelchair, something she strongly disputed. “My chair is 35lbs. I am heavier than my chair. My chair is probably less than other people’s luggage,” she said, adding that moments like this are far too common when traveling. “And this is what I mean when I say it is always something when I’m flying.”
After being denied boarding, Bode said she was forced to take a costly three-and-a-half-hour drive to reach her destination for a speaking engagement. The “Wicked” actress also revealed that her manager had previously confirmed with the airline that accommodations would be available. “I literally called them, talked to them on the phone, asked Southern Airlines if they could make that accommodation and they fully assured me and told me yes,” she claimed.
Southern Airways Responds, Says Incident ‘Does Not Reflect Our Standards’ As Investigation Begins
In a statement, Southern Airways said Bode’s experience “does not reflect the standard to which we hold ourselves,” adding that the company is investigating the incident and reviewing its processes.
“We are investigating the incident, and will take all appropriate action, including making any necessary improvements to our processes and training,” the company said. “We have reached out to Ms Bode to offer support and will work to address her concerns.”
Meanwhile, Bode claims, “It’s so much more than bad communication. It’s so much more than a mistake. These are our lives. This is our entire existence you’re talking about. My wheelchair is my freedom,” she continued. “And of course when I’m crying out of frustration and talking to the people at the gate very firmly, I look like a crazy person. I look like the one that’s in the wrong.”
