Actress Denied Boardings Due to Disability

0:00It's April 26, from Hollywood to your headphones. This is Entertainment and Celebrity News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Marissa Bode, the 25-year-old actress who plays the wheelchair using Nessa Rose in the Wicked movies, says a small airline called Southern. Airways denied her boarding because of her disability. She's been paralyzed and in a wheelchair since a car crash at age 11. This happened on a flight to Pennsylvania for a speaking gig. The airline flies tiny planes with only 28 seats or fewer, so federal rules don't require them to have lifts for wheelchairs. Their policy says, everyone must climb stairs to board, though ramps might be available sometimes, but not guaranteed. Bode couldn't stand her climb, so gate agents turned her away. Bode vented her anger online, calling it straight-up segregation, and saying flying always brings issues for her as a disabled person. She felt taught down to, and treated like the problem, even when pushing back.

1:01Instead of flying, she ended up driving three and a half hours, which cost her a lot. Her manager had called ahead and got assurances the airline could handle her needs, but that fell through. Bode pointed out her 35-pound chair was lighter than her or most luggage, but staff still fumbled excuses. Southern Airways says this isn't their usual standard. They're looking into it, and they've reached out to Bote to fix things and improve training. Airlines face pressure to make travel fairer for everyone with disabilities.