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I’ve written several times about a plus-size woman from Vancouver who first started a petition demanding that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “protect plus-sized customers” by having taxpayers foot the bill for her extra seats. She then complained about the size of hotel hallways before moving on to challenge rideshare vehicles to include seatbelt extenders to accommodate her ample girth. Recently, things appear to not be going well for Jaelynn Chaney. This year, she has reportedly kept a low profile following an alleged arrest in Washington State. Once a prominent voice in the body positivity movement with nearly 150,000 followers on TikTok and close to 100,000 on Instagram, Chaney’s sudden disappearance from social media left followers speculating about her whereabouts as that movement has lost momentum.
According to reports, the incident that led to Chaney’s arrest occurred on February 28th, at Trios Medical Hospital in Kennewick, WA. Police were called after hospital staff reported a disturbance involving the influencer, who was allegedly not there for medical reasons. Authorities claimed Chaney had become disruptive and was issued a trespassing warning, which she allegedly tore up before being taken into custody.
Court documents indicate that the situation escalated when officers attempted to arrest her. Chaney allegedly struck an officer and resisted being placed in custody. Due to her size, police reportedly had to summon a transport van equipped with a lift to move her safely to Benton County Jail. She was later charged with third-degree assault and resisting arrest.
Sources close to Chaney’s family said the incident unfolded shortly after she discovered her fiancé of six years, Jacob Ard, with another man at the hospital. The revelation reportedly triggered a confrontation that turned violent. Chaney’s father, Jerome, told reporters the situation was emotionally charged, citing her distress over the discovery.
Prior to her arrest, Chaney had hinted at personal struggles in her final social media posts. She also launched a GoFundMe campaign in February, claiming she was recovering from sepsis and dealing with the emotional aftermath of an abusive relationship. The fundraiser raised $1,200 toward her stated goal of securing housing and legal assistance.
Following her arrest, Chaney’s public defender requested a competency evaluation, asserting that she might not be fit to stand trial due to mental health concerns. On March 11th, a court ordered that she undergo inpatient treatment at Eastern State Hospital, where she was later diagnosed with delirium due to sepsis, an unspecified personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Reports from the hospital described erratic behavior and noncompliance with treatment. Staff noted that she frequently made conflicting requests, claimed multiple times to be pregnant despite negative tests, and often used profanity toward caregivers. Despite the difficulties, hospital staff continued to provide care until the court ultimately dismissed the case in May 2025 (following a recommendation from the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney).
Chaney’s legal and personal troubles mark a stark contrast to her earlier success as a plus-size influencer and advocate. Known for her campaign urging airlines to accommodate larger passengers with additional seats at no extra charge, she became a polarizing figure online. Her outspoken activism earned both admiration and criticism, particularly after she suggested that ticket prices might need to rise to make such policies feasible.
Before her disappearance, Chaney frequently appeared in major media outlets such as CNN and The Washington Post, where she promoted body inclusivity and accessibility in travel. She also documented her lifestyle, travel experiences, and advocacy for fat rights.
As of now, she has not returned to social media, and it remains unclear whether she plans to resume her public advocacy work. She was once celebrated for championing inclusivity and sparking conversations around equity in travel, but Chaney’s recent struggles paint a more complex portrait of an influencer whose public activism was overshadowed by private turmoil.
Anthony’s Take: Her requests were ludicrous and I stand by what I have said in the past. Her being severely overweight grants her no more special privileges than I receive for being tall. If you need two seats buy them, if you can’t fit in an Uber than call a bigger one, and if a hallway is too small it’s time to look at diet, exercise, and medicine versus social media advocacy.
(Image Credits: jaebaeproductions, ardthepanda, and GoFundMe.)
(H/T: Live and Let’s Fly.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
