A Brazilian woman who became an internet sensation after refusing to give up her pre-selected window seat to a crying child has now taken legal action against both the airline and the passenger who filmed her.
Jeniffer Castro, a 29-year-old bank employee from Belo Horizonte, unexpectedly found herself at the center of a viral controversy in December after an in-flight disagreement.
A video capturing the moment filmed not by the child’s mother, as many initially assumed, but by another passenger - spread rapidly online, triggering a storm of online criticism and shaming.
Jeniffer Castro, 29, a bank employee from Belo Horizonte found herself at the center of an internet firestorm after an incident in December. TikTok / @ondavirall2.0
Despite the negative backlash, Castro saw an unexpected rise in social media popularity. Her Instagram following surged to 2.1 million, and she secured several brand deals as an influencer.
Now, she has decided to take legal action, filing a lawsuit against GOL Airlines for the emotional distress and damage caused by the situation.
Additionally, she has filed a separate lawsuit against the passenger who recorded and shared the footage.
Citing "judicial secrecy,", Castro declined to disclose the amount she is seeking in damages and refused to provide details of the legal documents.
She emphasized that her goal is not just personal compensation but also to prevent similar cases of public shaming and unauthorized exposure in the future.
Previously, it was reported that she was "considering" taking legal action.
"Since that incident, my life has taken a turn I could never have imagined," Castro shared.
"What should have been just an ordinary flight turned into an extremely embarrassing situation, exposing me unfairly and causing consequences that affected both my personal and professional life. "
"I was the target of judgments, attacks, and speculation from people who don't even know the full story."
According to Castro, the situation began during the boarding process when she found a child sitting in the window seat she had selected in advance.
Since she had booked that specific seat ahead of time, she expected the child to move to another available spot.
"I waited for him to correctly accommodate himself in another seat, and then I sat down in my seat," she recalled.
The situation took a turn when another passenger, unrelated to the incident, began filming her without her permission, she claimed.
A video of the incident went viral, leading to a whirlwind of online shaming. Courtesy of Jeniffer Castro / SWNS
"Throughout the flight, the child cried a lot, which, although uncomfortable, is understandable when traveling," she said.
"What surprised me was the fact that a person who had nothing to do with the situation started filming me without permission, insulting me and trying to publicly embarrass me simply because I didn't want to change seats."
As the video circulated online, Castro found herself facing harsh criticism, which she said had a serious impact on both her mental health and professional career.
"My reaction was complete shock," she said. "I never imagined that something so simple could take on such proportions. "
"Professionally, my life has changed a lot, so much so that today I am no longer in the field I worked in before," she added.
"I was a banker. In my personal life, at the height of the repercussions, I practically didn't leave the house. "
"In addition to the emotional impact, I was also afraid, because we know that, unfortunately, there are many bad people in the world."
Frustrated by the widespread backlash and invasion of her privacy, Castro ultimately decided that taking legal action was the best course of action.
"I decided to sue the airline because what happened to me was a huge embarrassment, and this situation should never have reached this point," she said.
"No one deserves to go through what I went through, being filmed, insulted, and attacked just for exercising a basic right. "
"This lawsuit is not just about reparations, but also about setting a limit on this type of behavior. "
"We all have rights, and they must be respected, regardless of other people's opinions."
“My reaction was complete shock,” Castro said. “I never imagined that something so simple could take on such proportions. REUTERS
She further explained: "We gathered all the necessary evidence and took the appropriate measures against whoever filmed me. "
"There is no action against the child's mother, only against those who violated my privacy."
Despite the controversy, Castro remains firm in her belief that she had every right to stay in the seat she had selected.
"Each person has their own opinion, and I respect that," she stated.
"I believe that we live in a society where thinking differently is natural and healthy, as long as there is respect. "
"What makes everything more complicated is when people judge or attack without knowing all the details of the situation."
She hopes that the lawsuit will serve as a precedent for protecting personal rights and preventing future cases of online shaming and privacy violations.
"I believe that we should respect people's choices and decisions, especially when they are within their rights," she said.
"It's essential to normalize 'no' and understand that no one should be forced to justify something they simply don't want to do," she added.
"We live in a society where 'no' is often seen as rude or selfish, but this needs to change. "
"Each person has their own reasons, preferences, and limits, and all of this must be respected without judgment."
As she waits for the lawsuit to proceed, Castro says she is focused on reclaiming her privacy and advocating for people’s right to say no without fear of public humiliation.
"Seeking redress is not only about justice, but also about holding accountable those who inappropriately exposed my image and ensuring that this type of situation does not happen again to other people."
GOL Airlines declined to comment on the matter.
