After Being Denied Entry To A Party Bus Due To Her Size, A Woman Is Calling Out Discrimination Based On Weight Online

Aug 12, 2021

Despite the progress that's occurred in society, unfortunately, discrimination of all kinds still exists. However, one positive thing nowadays is that with the rise of social media, regular people are able to call out discrimination as it happens. 

Unfortunately, one TikTok user by the name of Fallon Melillo found herself on the receiving end of body discrimination while she was on a recent trip to Miami. Visiting from San Antonio, Texas for the weekend of July 31 to Aug 1, Melillo and her friends made plans to catch a party bus to a club they wanted to attend. Normally a party bus would suggest fun times with friends, but that's not what happened that weekend.

After booking a party bus with her friends, Melillo was refused entry onto the bus for her size. Humiliated, she also learned that the bus service even included a section on their website that stated that larger women wouldn't be allowed on the bus.

In an attempt to shake off the experience, the brave 27-year-old took to her TikTok — which she started in order to spread body positivity — to tell her story. Since she shared the video, Melillo's story has gone viral, with over half a million shares on TikTok. She's also been interviewed by media outlets and has been able to elaborate on her message.

The discrimination that happened to Melillo is completely unacceptable but at least she was able to warn others about the specific company and in the process raise awareness of body discrimination, which sadly is still rife. Let's take a look at her story.

Posting to her TikTok, Melillo begins her story by saying that if there's one video on her account that she'd like to gain traction, she'd want it to be this one. She states that she was visiting Miami Beach with friends over the weekend of July 31 to Aug 1 when she and her friends decided to go to a pool party at DAER Dayclub at the Hard Rock Hotel. 

One of her friends had organized tickets for a party bus through a promoter who worked for a company named Spring Break Party Bus Service. The bus would take Melillo and her friends to the club, while tickets were $40 and an additional $10 at the door upon arrival. 

However, the night before they were set to get on the party bus, Melillo came upon an event for the same bus service on the website Eventbrite. On the page it stated, as Melillo displayed in her TikTok video:

"Sorry no big girls for this party!

"The doorman is very strict on appearance. If you have had problems getting into exclusive clubs before then this is not for you! Please don't waste your time nor ours thinking that we can get you inside if you know you do not meet the qualifications."

Melillo goes on to explain that she reached out to DAER Dayclub, which is not affiliated with the party bus, and was told they do not discriminate based on body size. However, the party bus company clearly does, as they had the disclaimer on their site. Furthermore, the promoter hadn't mentioned anything about the discrimination policy when the tickets were bought. 

To Melillo's horror, when she and her friends arrived to get on the party bus they were told they couldn't get on because she is plus size. As she says in her video:

"There's no law [against this], but it's just downright awful and rude and humiliating."

She stated that the company did refund their money, but the damage was already done. Melillo urged anyone who saw her post to not use this party bus company if they were in Miami. She explains:

"This is just for any women, even if you're skinny and you would be allowed on the bus. I just don't think it's right to be supporting a business and giving them money to support this ideal."

She went on to explain that she originally created her platform to foster "body neutrality, body acceptance, body positivity," which is why she's calling out what happened to her, as it "would be wrong" for her to not speak about it. 

She ends her video by begging viewers to forgo using this party bus service and instead take another form of transport or "different company that doesn't discriminate against marginalized bodies in society."

Since Melillo spoke out, her video has gone viral, with news outlets reporting on the story in a bid to spread awareness. However, the party bus company doesn't appear to have learned anything from the situation. After she called them out, they changed their Eventbrite listing, but rather than getting rid of their discriminatory message, they simply changed the wording to be more vague but just as hurtful. The page now reads:

"A model look is encouraged. 

"Important note please read: As much as we would like to welcome everyone, admission to this exclusive event is very selective and we reserve the right [to] deny service."

What do you think about the discrimination Fallon Melillo faced at this party bus? Do you think events should be able to let in only who they want? Be sure to spread her message so others can know about it too.