A former Alaska Airlines flight attendant, Nelle Diala, lost her job due to a viral TikTok video in which she was seen twerking in her uniform. Diala had been employed by the airline for just over six months before being terminated for violating the company’s social media guidelines.
The 20-second dance video was filmed early in the morning while Diala was waiting for two hours for the captain to arrive and celebrating the end of her new hire probationary period, according to the New York Post. She was reportedly doing a victory dance as part of the celebration in the video. The original TikTok caption read, “Ghetto Till I Die, Don’t Let the Uniform Fool You.” Some viewers called for her dismissal, finding her behavior inappropriate for someone in an airline uniform.
Unfortunately, Diala’s excitement was short-lived as Alaska Airlines terminated her employment just six months into her contract. The flight attendant, who feels she did nothing wrong, is upset by the decision.
Diala later reposted the video with new commentary, saying, “Can’t even be yourself anymore without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work?” She used the hashtag #discriminationisreal and claims she was fired without a formal opportunity to present her side of the story.
“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” said Diala. “Losing my job was devastating.”
Diala expressed her passion for her job as a flight attendant, which helped fund her lingerie and dessert business. She is now seeking $12,000 in GoFundMe donations while searching for new employment, according to a report by View From The Wing. By Wednesday morning, the crowdfunding campaign had raised $182 of its $12,000 goal.
Although Diala acknowledges that posting the video was a lapse in judgment, she maintains that she did not intend any harm and did not mention her employer by name in the clip. She was surprised by the swift termination and still hopes to pursue a career in aviation.
“I’ve always been careful about what I post, and I never thought this video would cost me my career,” Diala said, as quoted by View From The Wing.
In the meantime, she plans to focus more on her lingerie and dessert ventures.