What could go wrong with bikinis on a plane? When Air New Zealand and Sports Illustrated partnered in February, their in-flight safety video caused quite the stir. The video, entitled "Safety in Paradise," featured SI models Christie Brinkley, Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Gomes, Hannah Davis and Ariel Meredith demonstrating air safety instructions... in bikinis.
The video immediately sparked online outrage, with Natasha Young of Australia among the most notable after starting an online petition calling for its removal and saying the video was "an excuse to objectify the sexualised female body." The petition sparked outcry on Twitter with the hashtag #AirNZsexism and attracted more than 11,000 signatures.
Just this weekend, Air New Zealand pulled the video from rotation, though denied it was the result of public outcry. A spokesperson for Air New Zealand told The New Zealand Herald that the airline rotates their safety videos every few months and suggested that this change was not dissimilar from any others.
IN-DEPTH
Air New Zealand bikini video phased out (The New Zealand Herald)
Remove the sexist in-flight safety video #AirNZsexism (Change.org)
- Betty White adds comedy to in-flight safety video
SOCIAL
--- Sarah Coffey