A plus-size TikToker has been slammed online after sharing the moment she asked restaurant staff for a bigger chair to sit on while dining out.
Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, regularly shares travel tips for larger-bodied people and has built up a following of 67,000 people on TikTok (@kirstyleannetravels).
In a recent post, she shared a clip of herself perched uncomfortably on a chair at a restaurant in Ibiza, before asking a member of staff to swap it for a larger seat.
“The first day we went down for breakfast, I sat down on the chair and felt instantly uncomfortable,” Kirsty, who shares tips on her blog, PlusSizeTravelToo, told NeedToKnow.online.
“It was a decent size but was awkwardly shaped in the sense it had legs that raised higher than the seat itself.
“This meant they dug into my thighs and it was incredibly painful to sit on. I tried to manoeuvre but there was no way I could sit comfortably.
“I could see bigger chairs at tables that were all occupied, but had empty chairs, and pulled a member of staff aside to ask if there was a chance I could use one of the empty ones instead.
“They were incredibly apologetic, even though I told them they didn’t need to be and brought over one of the other chairs right away.
“Two of them helped so it was super seamless as one person took the chair that was uncomfortable and the other person put the new one in its place.
“There was no fuss made over me asking and it felt so refreshing to be helped, no questions asked.
“Every single day from then when I went down to breakfast they changed the chairs for me before I’d even sat down.
“I get a little nervous when it comes to asking but over the years it definitely got easier. My main worry is always what those around me will think, rather than what the staff think.
“I’ve learnt to push it to the back of my mind as much as possible, but there are still moments where I catch myself worrying.”
Kirsty shared the clip on TikTok in a bid to encourage other people to advocate for themselves and their comfort.
The clip racked up 120,000 views and more than 8,000 likes and attracted a range of opinions – and a few trolls.
One person said: “A LITTLE more space? WDYM you needed like a whole rulers length more.”
“If you don’t get this wake-up call it’s over,” another user commented.
Someone else said: “If this ain’t a sign what is.”
“That’s definitely embarrassing,” added another critic.
One person said she had “violated” the first chair.
Another user commented: “Jesus, why do you gaslight yourself into believing this is normal?”
“Stop normalising being on the verge of death,” commented another follower.
Someone else added: “Jeez – you should be embarrassed. Did they get you a bucket to eat out of also?”
However, other viewers were more sympathetic and sided with Kirsty.
One person commented: “Whatever the size, them chairs look terribly uncomfortable! you deserve all the comfort you need!”
“Yes!!! Exactly, advocate for yourself and your comfort. Everyone should enjoy their vacay,” another user agreed. [sic]
Someone else said: “I agree. Places have to cater for all don’t they.”
“Yes, you deserve comfort no matter your size,” another user commented.
Another person added: “Honestly, I hate how uncomfortable those chairs at most restaurants are, even for skinny people. They make them that way on purpose.”
Despite the mix of opinions, Kirsty is determined to continue sharing her message.
She said: “I knew that it would resonate with a lot of people so I’m really happy that it helped those that may struggle to advocate for themselves in situations like this.
“Of course, there are also a lot of people that commented negatively, which didn’t surprise me in the slightest. What I don’t think they understand is that fat people exist, and we’re allowed to go outside.
“If something isn’t comfortable for us, the best thing we can do is become an advocate for ourselves. It affects them in no way at all, yet they still feel the need to comment on it.
“Thankfully my content isn’t for these people and is instead aimed at those who may need to hear a message like this one.
“I think sometimes, people forget that they can advocate for themselves in this way. There’s a lot of shame that comes with it and seeing that others are able to do it may help them realise that they can ask too.
“Even if it helps just one person, it makes me incredibly happy to know that I’m giving people the confidence to advocate for their comfort (and safety) when needed.”
