They’re calling it a case of “twerk turbulence.”
An Alaska Airlines flight attendant, Nelle Diala, found herself grounded permanently after a celebratory twerk session went viral on TikTok and Instagram. Now jobless, Diala has launched a GoFundMe to support her until she can find another gig in the skies—or at least a job where booty-shaking isn’t a fireable offense.
The now-infamous clip was filmed during a two-hour delay while waiting for the captain to arrive. In the video, Diala, still in her crisp Alaska Airlines uniform, busts out a dance move that’s more “club on Friday night” than “crew member ready for takeoff.” The caption? A confident “ghetto bih till I D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”
Apparently, the uniform fooled no one. The airline didn’t see the humor and promptly terminated her employment just six months into her contract. Ironically, the dance was meant to celebrate the end of her probationary period—a victory jig that turned into an exit routine.
Diala, however, doesn’t see the issue. She’s reposted the video with the caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work? People act like they’ve never done that before.” She hashtagged it #discriminationisreal, doubling down on her stance.
Adding another layer of audacity, Diala set up a GoFundMe titled “Support for Wrongly Fired Flight Attendant,” hoping to crowdfund $12,000. So far? Just $182 in donations. “I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” she lamented on the page, describing her job as a “dream gig” that let her travel the world and meet new people. The income, she said, also helped fund her side hustles: a lingerie business and a dessert venture—though her Instagram pages for these remain mysteriously empty.
The internet, of course, had thoughts. Critics flocked to aviation-focused Instagram pages to share their opinions, with comments ranging from snarky to downright brutal.
“You don’t respect the uniform, you don’t respect the job,” one commenter wrote. “Terms and conditions apply.”
Another chimed in: “‘Wrongly fired’? Girl, no. You were rightfully grounded. Stop twerking in your uniform and go apply for a new job.”
“The uniform isn’t a dance costume,” a third scoffed. “You’re supposed to represent the brand, not shake it on the tarmac.”
So, while Diala may have hoped for some sympathy, it seems her “twerk before work” move has left her grounded—and not in a good way.
