Lewis Openshaw, 24, said he was dismayed to find the passenger sat next to him
A businessman fat shamed a woman sat next to him on a plane and branded her a ‘lump of lard’ on Facebook.
Lewis Openshaw, 24, complained he had paid extra for a window seat on his flight to Tunisia on Friday but was dismayed to find the passenger sat next to him.
He posted the abusive status while waiting to leave Manchester Airport and called the woman a ‘big sweaty fat f*** with a hairy chin with a minging face’.
The security firm director soon took a picture of the woman without her realising and shared it publicly after being encouraged by friends who commented on his posts.
He then went on to claim that his flight was full of ‘fatties’ and appeared to make a racial slur referring to people of Pakistani origin living in Jamaica.
Mr Openshaw posted the abusive status while waiting to leave Manchester Airport on Friday
Charity Helping Overcome Obesity Problems (Hoop) slammed his post and warned it could lead to depression, anxiety, self harm and even suicidal thoughts in the victim.
Dr Stuart Flint from the charity, who is also a senior research fellow in public health and obesity at Leeds Beckett University, said it was ‘exactly like playground bullying’.
Mr Openshaw, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, wrote in his first post: ‘Just my f***ing luck. I pay extra for a window seat on a row with no one on.
‘So sit down now a big fat sweaty f*** with a hairy chin with a minging face like she’s headbutted a flaky cheese and bean pasty from Greggs and she stinks of raw onions comes and sits next to me. F*** right off.’
The businessman called the woman a ‘big sweaty fat f*** with a hairy chin with a minging face’
When a friend laughed at the post, Mr Openshaw replied: ‘I’m f***ing fuming mate. Can’t even put my arm on the arm rest cause of her 6×4 biceps.’
Mr Openshaw admitted to making the posts but said he did not intend them to be public
Another friend asked him to take a photo of her to share – and Mr Openshaw replied: ‘I will when she’s asleep. She’ll t*** me. She’s a right lump of lard.’
Less than an hour later he shared an image of the woman appearing to be sleeping next to him with her hand on face – to the delight of his friends.
Mr Openshaw, who uses the name Lewis Opey on social media, said: ‘Ladies and gentleman, I introduce (to) you the culprit! (Name) the lump of lard.’
When he eventually arrived in Tunisia and shared photographs of his hotel, friends asked him where his ‘bird’ was or if she was ‘eating to build up some energy’.
Mr Openshaw admitted to making the posts but claimed he did not intend them to be public. After being contacted for a response, Mr Openshaw deleted the posts.
‘It’s exactly like playground bullying’: Obesity expert DR STUART FLINT says ‘fat shaming’ posts could lead to self-harming and suicidal thoughts
By DR STUART FLINT, senior research fellow in public health and obesity at Leeds Beckett University and a director of charity Helping Overcome Obesity Problems
Dr Stuart Flint, Leeds Beckett University
It is exactly like playground bullying. You can see from some of the emojis used that it is perceived as quite comical as if it is a joke. Fat jokes are perceived as acceptable.
In terms of impact, the first thing I would say is the impact is great. No matter what the subject, stigma discrimination is not acceptable. It doesn’t have to be just about weight.
You have to think about the impact on the person. It can be quite vast and very serious. It could impact their mental and physical health but also self-harming and suicidal thoughts.
You have to think about how you behave and treat different people.
We know that weight stigma is very pervasive. People have these types of experiences almost daily across a range of settings.
They are being reported more in public settings such as on public transports, probably because of social media. It is being highlighted more.
There needs to be greater restrictions on social media and throughout in terms of weight stigma and discrimination.
If this was another topic that someone was being stigmatised for or treated the way this lady was treated then there would be repercussions.
The social media would have intervened and depending on the topic it might even go further, such as legal or whatever.