The internet has been agast over a woman who stood for an entire seven-hour flight. These days, anything can spark an online argument, and this was no exception.
People on TikTok and X went back and forth, trying to figure out why she refused to sit.
A viral TikTok post ignited the controversy

It all started when TikTok user @envisionaries posted a video of a blonde woman standing straight up in the plane’s aisle.
The text over the clip read: “Lady stood on my flight for the entire seven-hour duration watching her movie.”
She stood even in complete darkness

The man behind the video, Dr. Richard Duong, later explained that she did sit down when the seatbelt light was on. Other than that, she was on her feet the whole time.
At one point, the video cuts to a dark cabin, and sure enough, she’s still there, standing like a statue.
Social media users immediately took sides
People rushed to the comments to debate her reasons. One user said, “I wish this was more socially acceptable and that we had room to stand in between the seats bc sitting down for several hours honestly hurts.”
Another added, “I get restless legs especially on red eyes being overtired and it’s so insanely uncomfortable.”
Some argued that medical conditions could explain her choice
A lot of people had theories. “I have fibromyalgia and I would have to stand for most of the flight otherwise I’m in agony,” one person commented.
Another guessed, “She might have back pain or problems with her veins. She’s staying healthy.”
Someone else chimed in: “As someone with a broken tailbone, understood.”
Experts say standing on long flights can be beneficial
A bunch of comments mentioned how sitting for too long can be painful, especially for people with back or neck issues. The Spine Institute of America even recommends getting up and moving on flights. They say it helps with stiffness and pain from sitting in the same spot for hours.
Others believed she was just being inconsiderate
Of course, not everyone was sympathetic. Some people in the comments thought she was just making things difficult for other passengers. And, as expected, there were plenty of arguments in the replies.
Could it have been a personal choice?
One person had a different take: “She could have no issues at all and just wanted to stand. That’s her business.”
The debate reflects larger frustrations with air travel
One of the most popular comments said, “I wish this was more socially acceptable and that we had room to stand in between the seats bc sitting down for several hours honestly hurts.” Seems like this touched on a bigger issue — how uncomfortable flying can be.
The mystery remains unsolved
At the end of the day, nobody actually asked her why she stood the whole time. Even Dr. Richard Duong, the guy who filmed her, didn’t go over and ask. So, we’ll probably never know the real reason.
Regardless of her reason, the internet will always have an opinion

It’s funny how the smallest things turn into massive internet debates. Whether she had a medical condition, was avoiding pain, or just felt like standing, people on TikTok and X definitely had a lot to say about it.
Would you stand for seven hours? Let us know!
Last Updated on January 17, 2025 by Sarah Kester