MLB Player Goes After United Airlines

Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 8:55 PM ET, Mon April 17, 2023
United Airlines plane at gate

United plane waiting for guests to board (photo by Eric Bowman)

Professional athletes often take to Twitter after games. This one took to the social media platform and started a national debate.

The issue involves the parental oversight of small children on an airplane and the proper etiquette.

"The [United] flight attendant just made my 22-week pregnant wife traveling with a 5-year-old and 2-year-old get on her hands and knees to pick up the popcorn mess by my youngest daughter. Are you kidding me?!?!" Anthony Bass, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, tweeted on Sunday.

The responses online were surprisingly mixed.

"Genuinely curious who should clean up the mess your 2-year-old made? As a parent of three kids, I am the one responsible for them," tweeted one.

Said another: "I have three kids, just flew coach 12 hours, and was able to clean up after them — for every mess. It’s called parenting. Do you expect park janitors to clean up after your pet? No; Your child, your responsibility."

 


But others supported Bass and his family. "Ever gone to a movie and drop popcorn on the floor? Do you clean it up or does theatre staff do it when you leave," wrote one in defense of Bass and his wife. 


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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