People on social media are slamming news media outlets for covering the past of David Dao, the passenger who was dragged screaming from an overbooked United flight.
Outlets like the Courier-Journal, The Chicago Sun-Times, TMZ, People, the New York Daily News and — full disclosure — TheWrap either reported or cited reports that Dao previously had a suspended medical license and prescription drug felonies. But as many noted, the men who dragged Dao off the flight had no way of knowing about his past, and it has nothing to do with the treatment he suffered.
“His past convictions are just that – past and have nothing to do with how David Dao was mistreated-mishandled on the flight,” one person on Twitter said in response to a Courier-Journal story about Dao. “Officers wrong.”
“Because United bullied David Dao off the flight the media is now airing out his dirty laundry and past problems,” another user tweeted.
“To the press that paints a pretty picture of United in this issue against David Dao, just stop. United was wrong in handling the situation,” tweeted another.
Video of Dao’s now-infamous removal shows security agents dragging him screaming from his seat as other passengers look on in shock. In a statement, United tried to stress that the men who dragged the passenger did not work for United. The Chicago Department of Aviation said an officer had been placed on leave and that the dragging “was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure.”
A few hours after the incident first surfaced on social media, United CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement: “I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened.”
Later footage showed Dao bloody and disoriented as he repeated “just kill me.”
See the tweets below.
Because United bullied David Dao off the flight the media is now airing out his dirty laundry and pastproblems
— Sarah B. Monarrez (@sarahGeddon) April 11, 2017
His past convictions are just that – past and have nothing to do with how David Dao was mistreated-mishandled on the flight. Officers wrong
— Sandy 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇺🇦🌻VIA Michigan FL TN NJ (@Nesting4Awhile) April 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/officialtaygray/status/851821615591677954
If @courierjournal thinks doctor who got pulled off the @united flight's past is troubled, wait until they look into the @Chicago_Police's
— Phoenix🌵DSA🌹 (@PhxDSA) April 11, 2017
@shekharbhatia In relation to your article, what has David Dao's past got to do with his treatment by United? https://t.co/e1mPzA6PRB
— Alix Fong (@AlixFong) April 11, 2017
@morganwatkins26 What does David Dao's "troubled past" have to do with the @united debacle? Is that information relevant? #united3411
— Octavio Espinal 🏳️🌈 (@OctavioEspinal) April 11, 2017
Some media outlets irresponsibly smeared Dr. David Dao, who was the brutality victim on United Flight 3411. https://t.co/UU6U0DtWMz
— Justin Gibson (@JGibsonDem) April 11, 2017
David Dao getting the full "Blame the victim" treatment from media.
WTF? https://t.co/j3JL79fCbt— Raising Kane (@eugene_kane) April 11, 2017
To the press that paints a pretty picture of United in this issue against David Dao, just stop. United was wrong in handling the situation.
— Mia • Happy 10 years, Outlander 🤍✨ (@miaisfangirl) April 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/HeshdeSilva/status/851839021747548160