‘Wicked’ Star Marissa Bode Claims She Was Denied Boarding a Flight ‘Because I Was Disabled’
Bode said agents cited stairs and a 35-pound wheelchair, then forced her to drive more than 3 hours to reach her destination.
- On Thursday, Wicked actress Marissa Bode posted a video claiming Southern Airways denied her boarding for a connecting flight because she uses a wheelchair. Gate agents cited the aircraft's design and her wheelchair's weight as reasons for the exclusion.
- Southern Airways' contract of carriage requires passengers to ascend steps, as their smaller aircraft carry fewer than 30 passengers and lack mechanical lifts. The airline maintains it is not federally required to provide mechanical lifts for these specific aircraft.
- Pointing out her 35-pound wheelchair, Bode criticized the situation as "blatant segregation," noting that staff provided no alternative accommodations for her trip to a small Pennsylvania town. She was ultimately forced to drive over three hours to reach her destination.
- Demanding airlines "do f—ing better," Bode emphasized this incident follows a pattern of negative experiences. She previously posted about a December 2025 flight where her partner's wheelchair was damaged, prompting her to advocate for improved accessibility standards.
- Thousands of wheelchairs are damaged by airlines annually, costing disabled travelers time and money. Bode documents these recurring challenges in an "accidental series" on TikTok to urge the industry to stop treating disabled passengers as an afterthought.
20 Articles
20 Articles
The actress, known for playing Nessarose in “Wicked”, reported what happened through her TikTok account
Marissa Bode Left Stranded After Airline Denies Boarding
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA “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 Says She W…
'Wicked' Star Marissa Bode Claims She Was Denied Boarding on a Flight Because of Her Disability: 'Blatant Segregation'
“Wicked” star Marissa Bode spoke out against Southern Airways after she was allegedly stopped from boarding a flight because of her disability. The actress and disability advocate took to her TikTok on Thursday, where she claimed, “I was denied boarding a flight because I’m disabled.” “I wish that were clickbait. I wish that were false, but that is what happened,” she said. “I also hate that this kind of turned into an accidental series on my pa…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
