Singer Natalie Grant had taken to
Grant had purchased Business Select tickets for herself and one child, but not for her other children and her husband, who were traveling with her, Nashville Scene reports. When she tried to board early with her entire family, she was told that only those passengers with Business Select tickets could come along, according to Patterson's lawsuit.
Grant, upset that her four-year-old child could not board the plane early with her, vented to her 187,000 Twitter followers.
Gracie is 4. FOUR! she wanted her to board by herself or make us wait till A34. Even though I was business select! @southwestair
- Natalie Grant (@NatalieGrant) March 24, 2011
According to the lawsuit, Grant made these statements:
- "Gracie is 4. FOUR! she wanted her to board by herself or make us wait Till A34. Even though I was business select!"
- "I fly @southwestair at least 75x/year. just had WORST experience. Me; A1, Sadie: A3 Gracie A34. Woman refused 2 let Gracie board w/ me."
- "Nashville. Gate A25. Flight to Denver. Her name is Jennifer. She said "get over it. Follow the rules. Or don't fly."
- She has done this to me before. She has the WORST customer service. My daughter is FOUR.
- "that is ridiculous! [W]hat did she expect? Her walk on herself & find her seat like a grown adult?"
- "If your [sic] sympathize with me, when you respond be sure & include @southwestair in tweet. They need to know this WRONG."
- Sadie had MAJOR blowout. I think it's in response to our southwest air experience. She decided to leave them a gift on their plain. Teehee.
Patterson sued Grant for defamation and putting her in a false light for the March 2011 incident.
The charges were dropped by a trial court but a Tennessee appeals court recently upheld the false light charge, according to Nashville Scene.