Randi Zuckerberg calls out passenger who made repeated lewd remarks on flight

But she wasn't taken seriously until she tweeted about it.
 By 
Victoria Ho
 on 
Randi Zuckerberg calls out passenger who made repeated lewd remarks on flight
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 10: Randi Zuckerberg discusses "Celebrate Working Mothers with Alicia Ybarboat" at AOL Build at AOL Studios In New York on May 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

Randi Zuckerberg has alleged that a man seated next to her on a flight sexually harassed her repeatedly. But when she told a flight attendant, her complaint was brushed off.

Zuckerberg, CEO of Zuckerberg Media and sister of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, tweeted a letter she sent to Alaska Airlines' CEO Brad Tilden, relating the incident.

Zuckerberg said she was seated in first class on a three-hour Alaska Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Mazatlan on Wednesday. The man seated next to her started talking "about touching himself, kept asking me if I fantasised about the female business colleague I was travelling with, rated and commented on the women's bodies boarding the aircraft."

After she complained, however, flight attendants told her the man is a frequent flier, and that she shouldn't "take it personally."

She was offered a change of seat too, but decided later she shouldn't be the one having to move.

"I'm even more furious with Alaska Airlines for knowingly and willingly providing this man with a platform to harass women...[and] being more concerned with taking his money than for the safety and security of the other passengers around him," she wrote.

About an hour and a half after she tweeted her letter, which got nearly a thousand shares in the time, Zuckerberg posted an update saying Alaska Airlines has temporarily suspended the passenger's frequent traveller status, and are conducting an investigation.

Most people reacted in disgust, with many applauding Zuckerberg for coming forward so publicly.

But some cynical commenters said it could be Zuckerberg's influential status that got Alaska Airlines to react so swiftly.

Topics Activism

Mashable Image
Victoria Ho

Victoria Ho is Mashable's Asia Editor, based in Singapore. She previously reported on news and tech at The Business Times, TechCrunch and ZDNet. When she isn't writing, she's making music with her band

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Verizon outage may have impacted 911 calls
The Verizon logo on a building.

Uber found liable in precedent-setting sexual assault case
A hand holding a phone in front of a car with an Uber window sticker.

Mark Zuckerberg in courtroom hot seat over social media dangers
Mark Zuckerberg surrounded by a large group of press and cameras.

Artemis 2 mission timeline: An itinerary for the historic 10-day flight
An uncrewed Orion spaceship flying toward the moon during Artemis 1

Racist slur repeated in Google notifications on BAFTA N-word scandal
Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo at the BAFTAs

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.


NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!