Beyonce fan's TikTok video goes viral after airline fails to accommodate his wheelchair

A dedicated Beyonce fan, living with cerebral palsy, was all set to experience the thrill of seeing his beloved artist perform live in Seattle.

However, his dreams were dashed when the airline failed to accommodate his wheelchair.

What happened

• Jon Hetherington, a 34-year-old from Oregon, had a ticket for Beyonce's sold-out concert.

• He was excited to go, but the airport in Eugene said his wheelchair exceeded the plane's height limit by just four inches, preventing him from taking it on the flight.

• In a TikTok video, Hetherington shared his disappointment, explaining that upon arriving at the airport for his flight, he was informed about the height restriction on his wheelchair.

• Despite efforts to find alternative flights and airlines, no suitable options were available.

• The video gained significant traction on social media, amassing over 88,000 views.
• Hetherington's fans mentioned Beyonce and her team in their posts.

Beyonce's renowned spokesperson began following him on social media, sparking speculation that Beyonce might offer assistance.

Hetherington expressed his surprise at the attention, stating, "I thought maybe a few hundred people would see it, and that would be the end of it."

He chose not to disclose the name of the airline involved, clarifying in another video that it's not an isolated issue but rather a problem prevalent across all airlines.

"We've structured our society in a way that excludes disabled people from every aspect. That's the real problem we need to address," he emphasized.

Hetherington also revealed that this wasn't the first instance of discrimination he faced at concerts. Just two weeks prior, after attending a Janelle Monee concert, he found himself stranded in Seattle until 1 am due to a lack of accessible taxis.

He hopes that his situation will serve as a catalyst for change in how disabled individuals are treated.

Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour, her ninth concert tour, commenced on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden. It stands as her most successful tour ever, in support of her seventh album, "Renaissance," which was announced on February 1, 2023.