(OPINION) An Allegiant Air passenger was recently removed from a flight for wearing a mask with the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon” displayed on it, according to a viral video posted on social media. In the video, posted by the popular Twitter account “Libs of TikTok,” the passenger, an unidentified middle-aged man, can be seen arguing with a flight attendant while onboard a plane.
The attendant starts by asking the man to remove his mask over “the comment that you have written on there.” In response, the man says he has a right to express his beliefs, but the attendant replies, “I’m going to ask you to put a different mask on or I’m going to ask you to leave.”
This guy was reportedly kicked off a flight because he had “let’s go Brandon” written on his mask and refused to change masks. @Allegiant employee claims it’s an “FAA regulation” pic.twitter.com/4ipRbqggEB
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) February 16, 2022
Though the video does not show the message on his mask, the caption said it featured the slogan, “Let’s Go Brandon,” a not-so-secret code for “F–k Joe Biden” among detractors. “Today you can’t have let’s go Brandon on your mask or you will be removed,” the caption said.
Footage showed the woman repeatedly telling the passenger to gather his belongings and get off the plane. She also tells him she doesn’t give him permission to record her — though the video is captured by someone else.
Allegiant told Fox Business that the man was removed for ignoring the crew member’s instructions. “The video in question depicts part of an incident involving a passenger who failed to comply with repeated crew member requests to adhere to the federal face mask policy,” the airline said in a statement.
