The woman who went viral for refusing to give up her window seat to a crying child on a plane said the immense amount of online shaming left her confined to her house and forced a change in her professional career as a banker.
But with the backlash came newfound social media fame and now she’s seeking a potential payout after filing charges against both the airline and the passenger who filmed the incident.
Jeniffer Castro, 29, a bank employee from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, became the center of an internet firestorm after a row on a GOL Airlines domestic flight in the South American country on December 4, 2024.
A video of the incident – which Jeniffer says was actually filmed by a fellow passenger and not the mother – went viral, leading to a whirlwind of online shaming.
‘Since that incident, my life has taken a turn I could never have imagined,’ Jeniffer told DailyMail.com.
‘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.’
Jeniffer said the incident began during boarding when she noticed a child sitting in her designated seat.
Jeniffer Castro, 29, told DailyMail.com the immense amount of online shaming after a video of her refusing to give up her window seat on a plane to a crying child went viral, left her confined to her house and forced a change in her professional career as a banker
The row took place on a GOL Airlines domestic flight in Brazil on December 4, 2024. Jeniffer clarified that it wasn’t the mother who was filming, as was reported previously, but a passenger
Since she had selected the window seat in advance, she expected the child to move to another seat.
‘I waited for him to correctly accommodate himself in another seat, and then I sat down in my seat,’ Jeniffer recalled.
The situation escalated when someone began filming the Castro without her consent, she said.
‘Throughout the flight, the child cried a lot, which, although uncomfortable, is understandable when traveling,’ she recalled.
‘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.’
The viral video led to widespread public backlash, which Jeniffer said had severe consequences for 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.
With the backlash came newfound social media fame for Jeniffer and now she’s seeking a potential payout after officially filing charges against both the airline and the passenger who filmed the incident
Jeniffer said she decided to sue the airline to set a precedent that people’s privacy shouldn’t be invaded over a personal disagreement
‘I was a banker. In my personal life, at the height of the repercussions, I practically didn’t leave the house.’
But it wasn’t all bad press for Jeniffer, as her steadfastness endeared her to some netizens leading her to unexpectedly achieve social media fame with her Instagram following skyrocketing to 2.1million.
And this opened up a new revenue path as she locked down multiple brand deals as an influencer, Jeniffer said.
Despite this, in response to the public scrutiny and the unauthorized filming, the 29-year-old said she decided to take legal action and has officially filed against GOL Airlines, to seek compensation for distress and damages caused by the ordeal.
The budding influencer also said she has filed against the fellow passenger who filed her.
Citing ‘judicial secrecy,’ Jeniffer declined to reveal the amount, and would not share the legal paperwork, but told DailyMail.com she has filed in recent weeks.
‘In addition to the emotional impact, I was also afraid, because we know that, unfortunately, there are many bad people in the world.
‘I decided to sue the airline because what happened to me was a huge embarrassment, and this situation should never have reached this point,’ Jeniffer said.
On the GOL flight, Jeniffer said she was shocked when the passenger ‘who had nothing to do with the situation’ started filming her without her permission
Jeniffer said she’s taking no legal action against the mother of the crying child who wanted her window seat
‘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.’
She added: ‘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.’
And Jeniffer is headstrong in her belief that she was within her right to keep her pre-purchased window seat regardless of the backlash.
‘Each person has their own opinion, and I respect that,’ the 29-year-old explained.
‘I believe that we live in a society where thinking differently is natural and healthy, as long as there is respect.
Jeniffer is adamant that she was within her right to keep her pre-purchased window seat regardless of the backlash
‘What makes everything more complicated is when people judge or attack without knowing all the details of the situation.’
Jeniffer said she hopes legal action will set a precedent against public shaming and unauthorized exposure.
‘I believe that we should respect people’s choices and decisions, especially when they are within their rights.
‘It’s essential to normalize “no” and understand that no one should be forced to justify something they simply don’t want to do,’ Jeniffer 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.’
GOL Airlines declined to comment to DailyMail.com.
