A woman shared her side after a viral video showed her refusing to swap plane seats with a crying toddler.

Jeniffer Castro, a 29-year-old from Brazil, found herself at the center of attention when a mother recorded her during a flight.

Woman criticized for refusing seat swap with crying toddler in a flight

On December 4, 2024, Castro boarded a domestic flight with GOL Airlines.

When she arrived at her assigned window seat, she found a toddler already sitting there.

The child’s mother explained that they wanted to look out the window, but Castro insisted that she had booked that specific seat and asked them to move.

The mother then began recording Castro, expressing her frustration.

In the video, the mother can be heard saying, “I’m recording your face, this is disgusting. It’s the 21st century and people have no empathy for children.”

This recording quickly spread on social media, drawing mixed reactions from viewers.

Woman criticized for refusing seat swap with crying toddler sues airline and woman who filmed her

In a recent interview on the Cola Mais Podcast, Castro discussed her experience and her plans to take legal action against the mother who filmed her.

She stated, “Measures are now being taken. What I went through wasn’t easy.”

Castro felt that the flight attendants should have intervened and asked if she needed help, but they remained uninvolved.

Castro explained that she clearly told the mother it was her seat and waited for them to leave.

Despite a suggestion from a fellow passenger to swap seats, she stood her ground.

Castro described the mother as “very rude,” and noted that the toddler cried for the entire 50-minute flight from Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte.

She said: “[Translation] Measures are now being taken. What I went through wasn’t easy.

The flight attendants could have asked me if I need anything, or if I was bothered by the passenger, but they didn’t. They stayed out of it.”

The incident sparked a lot of discussion online.

Many people sided with Castro, arguing that she was within her rights not to give up her seat.

One Facebook user wrote, “She paid for it, it’s her seat. The toddler’s parent’s poor planning doesn’t constitute an emergency for her.”

Others echoed similar sentiments, stating that parents should plan better when traveling with young children.

Despite the backlash against her, Castro has received support from some quarters.

Some people are pointing out that filming someone without their consent is problematic and are calling for changes in handling such situations in public spaces.

“I would sue everyone who filmed me against my will,” one commenter noted, highlighting the legal complexities that can arise from filming in public.

Moving Forward

Despite the stir caused by the incident, Castro is focused on moving forward.

She hopes that sharing her side of the story will provide clarity on the events that unfolded.

“What I went through wasn’t easy,” she reiterated, emphasizing the emotional toll the situation has taken on her.

As she navigates this challenging time, Castro is determined to stand up for herself.

The situation raises important questions about passenger rights and the responsibilities of parents traveling with young children.