American Airlines Accused Of Banning Turkish Bodybuilder Over “Offensive” Attire

American Airlines has been accused of turning away a Turkish bodybuilder and fitness model over her attire.

Deniz Saypinar, 26, who is also a social media personality, moved to the United States from her conservative country to pursue her career and get a taste of “freedom.”

But she soon learned that “conservatism” is an issue all over. Saypinar found herself stuck at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday after American Airlines flight attendants had issues with her attire.

“You will never believe what happened to me at Texas Airport,” Saypinar told her 1 million followers on Instagram. She tearfully accused the flight crew of saying that she was “naked” and that her outfit“ disturbed other families” at the airport.

“I am not naked,” Saypinar, the first non-American citizen to win the US National Bikini Fitness Competition in 2021, told viewers. The model is also the first woman in Turkey to be given status by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness.

“I am an athlete, and now I have to wait here until the morning,” she continued.

“I like to wear feminine clothes that reveal my femininity, but I never dress in a way that will offend anyone. I’m mature and civilized enough to know what I can and cannot wear.”

“I don’t deserve to be treated like the worst person in the world for wearing denim shorts,” Saypinar wrote. “What separates us from animals if humans can’t control even their most primitive impulses. I feel insulted. They wouldn’t let me on the plane because I wore these shorts in the United States.”

The outfit in question was a brown top, denim shorts, and trainers. To lessen the “sauciness,” she tied a white blouse around her waist, the New York Post reported.

Some people sided with the airline after seeing Saypinar in the outfit. Still, others didn’t.

“It is 2021, and there is still a dress code you have to follow to board a plane, of course, only if you are a woman. This is ridiculous,” said one of her fans.

Another said: “Teach society to respect women, rather than telling women what to wear or what to do.”

A spokesperson for the airline released a statement to the Post via email, saying, “On July 8, American Airlines denied boarding for a customer traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Miami. As stated in the conditions of carriage, all customers must dress appropriately, and offensive clothing isn’t permitted onboard our flights.”

“The customer was advised of our policy and was rebooked on a subsequent flight. The customer has since arrived in Miami,” the rep added.