This is absolutely DISGUSTING!!!
Every once in a while, a story pops up about Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers harassing travelers with extremely invasive practices — but a cancer patient?!
Over the weekend, Denise Albert — the cofounder of The MOMS, a “a multi-platform lifestyle brand” — was stopped by TSA employees at LAX in what she told Pix11 was a “horrific” experience!
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The reason for the search was a medical cream Denise packed in her carry-on that the host carries as part of her cancer treatment! The shaken woman was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2015 and began chemo in February that year after having a lumpectomy.
As if getting patted down wasn’t embarrassing enough, the agents were so strict they forced Denise to remove her wig and shoes — and she was barefoot for about 20 minutes!
The journalist took to The MOMS website to write about the experience on Sunday, saying:
“I have never been so humiliated or felt more violated in my life. I went through the scanning machine at the airport without incident. I had already told them about my metal port and my medical cream which I removed from my bag for them to see and test as I have done on prior flights. I don’t know what was different this time but TSA agents aggressively attempted to do a body cavity search in public.”
What’s worse is the employees were TOTALLY insensitive to Denise’s situation:
“They then started to tell me they would apply pressure from head to toe and I got very upset because I wear a wig. I didn’t want them to touch it, move it, or ruin it. So I ripped it off for them to pat my head without damaging my wig (that I paid for and insurance didn’t cover!) I don’t ever go out in public without it. I have shown pictures on social media as I feel it empowers others but I’m not comfortable in public (I have taken it off at 2 breast cancer related work events for a second to show other cancer survivors and those in it now!) They also put my shoes through and then wouldn’t allow me to put them back on until after the full body search. After at least 20 minutes of sitting there because they were debating how to proceed, I told them my feet were freezing. Also a side effect from chemo. They refused to help me. The woman reached behind me and forceably and aggressively put her hands down my jeans in the back. When I kept asking why they needed to do all of this, they kept saying because I wanted to bring medical cream on the plane.”
Woah.
The good news is, for any doubters out there, Denise recorded part of the incident and uploaded it to YouTube over the weekend as well!
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As for how the TSA is handling their AWFUL workers… they told Pix11 later in the week:
“The Transportation Security Administration takes reports of alleged impropriety very seriously. TSA is currently looking into the specific details as to what occurred during the screening process to ensure our security protocols were followed. We regret any distress the security screening process may have caused the passenger. We will work with the passenger directly to address her concerns.”
Well they better pucker up… because from the sound of it, the TSA has A LOT of ass-kissing to do!
Ch-ch-check out the video to see how Denise’s pat-down went down (below)!!!
Get well soon, Denise!
[Image via YouTube.]
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