Alaska Airlines Fires Flight Attendant Over Twerking Video—Is It Justified?
Alaska Airlines has made headlines after firing flight attendant Nelle Diala for posting a TikTok video of herself twerking on an empty plane. While the airline claims she violated company social media policies, Diala believes her termination was discriminatory and an overreaction to a harmless act.
Her story has sparked an online debate: Was this a clear-cut violation of workplace policy, or is corporate America becoming too rigid about employee expression?
What Happened?
Diala, who had been working as an Alaska Airlines flight attendant for six months, recorded herself twerking in uniform on an empty plane at 6 a.m. while waiting for the captain to arrive.
The video, originally shared on TikTok, included the caption:
“Ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”
Diala says she filmed the clip as a “victory dance” to celebrate the end of her probationary period. Unfortunately, it ended up marking the end of her time with the airline altogether.
Shortly after the video went viral, Alaska Airlines terminated her employment, citing a violation of their social media policy.
Diala Speaks Out: “I Didn’t Think It Was Inappropriate”
Diala, who has since spoken out about the firing in an Inside Edition interview, says she was blindsided by the decision.
“I didn’t think that being so happy could turn into something like this,” she explained.
“I put on a proud face every time I stepped on that plane, and for them to terminate me without giving me a chance, it just was unfair.”
While she acknowledges the company’s social media policy, she argues that her dance was harmless and shouldn’t have resulted in losing her job.
In response, Alaska Airlines defended its decision, stating:
“While we don’t comment on personnel matters, we hold all flight attendants to high standards for conduct and guest care. All new flight attendants are subject to probationary periods, just like all Alaska Airlines employees.”
Discrimination Claims and Public Reaction
Beyond feeling wrongfully terminated, Diala also believes race and culture played a role in her firing.
“So, of course, the company would like to embrace ‘all cultures’ but leave the minority girl from the ghetto OUT,” she wrote in a now-deleted post.
She claims that because her dance style was “geared toward the urban community,” it was perceived differently than if another culture had done the same thing.
Her firing has divided public opinion. Some people sympathize with her, arguing that corporate America is too strict on self-expression—especially for young workers in industries like travel and hospitality. Others agree with the airline, saying that workplace professionalism should still apply even when employees are off-duty or between shifts.
Aftermath: Fundraising and Future Plans
Following her termination, Diala launched a GoFundMe campaign to support herself while she searched for another flight attendant job. The campaign raised $3,312 before closing.
Despite losing her “dream job,” she has expressed plans to focus on her side businesses, which include a lingerie line and dessert brand.
An Unbiased Perspective: Policy Enforcement or Overreaction?
This situation highlights a broader conversation about social media, self-expression, and workplace professionalism.
Why the Firing Might Be Justified:
-Most companies have strict social media policies, especially for employees who wear a uniform and represent a brand.
-The airline industry relies on professionalism and public trust, so an employee dancing in uniform on a plane—even off-duty—might be seen as unprofessional or inappropriate.
-Probationary employees typically have less job security, making any policy violation a potential cause for termination.
Why the Firing Might Be Unfair:
-Diala was not on duty and was simply waiting for the captain—it wasn’t as if she was twerking mid-flight.
-Other employees at major corporations have engaged in lighthearted online trends without such extreme consequences.
-Her claim of cultural bias raises an important question: Would the reaction have been different if the dance were in a different style?
-At the end of the day, the incident reflects the delicate balance between corporate branding, employee freedom, and evolving workplace culture.
While Alaska Airlines stood firm on its social media policies, the debate will likely continue about whether workplaces should allow employees to express themselves more freely—or if professionalism should always come first.
What do you think—was this termination justified, or did the airline overreact?
