On May 1, 2026, a routine First Class flight turned into a flashpoint for the ongoing conversation about transphobia and allyship in public spaces. Actress and director Tommy Dorfman, best known for her role as Ryan Shaver on Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, found herself the target of derogatory texts from a fellow passenger. By the next day, Dorfman had transformed the encounter into a public moment of reckoning, sharing photos and a video of the man’s phone—and the hate-filled messages it displayed—on her Instagram account.
The incident, first reported by People Magazine and widely covered by outlets like BuzzFeed and US Weekly, quickly gained traction across social media. Dorfman, 33, used her platform not only to expose the man’s behavior but also to highlight the everyday discrimination faced by trans people—even in the supposedly refined environment of a First Class cabin.
According to the screenshots Dorfman posted, the man began his group chat with a blunt message: “I am in the first aisle of First Class. Guess what is sitting next to me?” He followed up with a slur, calling Dorfman a “transsexual” and a “freak,” and lamented, “Just my luck. I was hoping for a hot babe!!” The texts revealed his frustration at the seating arrangement, with one message reading, “2 and a half hours of sitting next to this freak.”
But the story didn’t end with hate. In a twist that resonated with many online, the recipient of the man’s texts—saved as Samantha in his phone—responded with unexpected compassion. “Just remember many people you love are LGBTQ+ and this country sucks for them right now. Be kind!” Samantha urged. Dorfman, moved by the response, praised her in her own post, writing, “wait samantha ily girl.” Another contact, Dave, chimed in with a remark that Dorfman interpreted as supportive, saying, “You got one, a brand new one!”
In her lengthy Instagram caption, Dorfman addressed not just the man’s transphobia but also his “deeply misogynistic and revolting comments” about the flight attendants—whom he described as “hot as hell.” She didn’t mince words, calling out the “audacity of this man so blatantly blasting off texts about me (sparing you the deeply misogynistic and revolting comments on our flight attendants in contrast to my freak) only reaffirms the choices I’ve made for myself to feel safe and comfortable in my body and spirit.”
Dorfman’s response was both vulnerable and defiant. She wrote, “Objectively, I know I’m not ‘passing’ and I’m ‘bricky’ and ‘clocky’ but passing hasn’t been the point for me nor should it be for any trans person. We are all allowed to evolve in any way that feels true and that evolution can expand and contract. It’s always been about alignment and autonomy for my own comfort, not the comfort of others or the expectations of society.”
Her words struck a chord with many, including celebrities like Amanda Seyfried, who commented, “Scared and dumb all of ‘em ‘cept Sam.” Dorfman’s post quickly went viral, sparking widespread outrage over the man’s behavior and igniting a broader conversation about the persistence of transphobia—even in spaces where civility is expected.
Yet Dorfman’s decision to share the incident was not just about exposing bigotry. She explained her reasoning candidly: “And why post, you may wonder? Because I can and this man is an alt right vampire AND because Samantha deserves her flowers.” By holding the man accountable in such a public way, she hoped to shine a light on the kind of discrimination that often goes unchallenged in everyday life. “This does come at the cost of safety and comfort in the world, especially in America, and that’s not without consequence internally and externally. I am lucky to have the life I have, the ability to fly freely (for now), and even post shit like this,” she wrote.
The incident also brought renewed attention to Dorfman’s ongoing advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance. Since coming out publicly as transgender in 2021, Dorfman has used her platform to push for greater understanding. In a 2021 interview with TIME, she reflected, “Coming out is always viewed as this grand reveal, but I was never not out. Today is about clarity: I am a trans woman. My pronouns are she/her. My name is Tommy.” Her journey has included directing the 2025 film I Wish You All the Best, which centers on a nonbinary teen’s experience—a project she described to Us Weekly as an effort to provide authentic representation for audiences who rarely see themselves reflected on screen.
This latest episode on the plane is not an isolated event for Dorfman, but rather part of a broader struggle that trans people face daily. As BuzzFeed noted, the incident underscores how discrimination can occur in plain sight, sometimes just inches away from the people it targets. Dorfman’s willingness to confront the issue head-on—and to uplift the voices of allies like Samantha—offers a blueprint for how to respond when bigotry rears its head.
Many observers have also pointed out that the incident raises questions about airline culture and the responsibilities of carriers to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all passengers. While Dorfman did not name the airline or indicate whether she planned further action, her public call-out has prompted broader discussions about what more can be done to combat discrimination at 30,000 feet.
For Dorfman, the experience is both deeply personal and emblematic of a larger societal issue. As she put it, “We are all allowed to evolve in any way that feels true and that evolution can expand and contract.” Her insistence on living authentically—even in the face of hostility—serves as a reminder of the courage it takes to be oneself in a world that often demands conformity.
Ultimately, the viral moment sparked by a stranger’s hateful texts became a rallying point for empathy, accountability, and the enduring power of kindness. In Dorfman’s words, the story is not just about confronting hate, but about “alignment and autonomy for my own comfort, not the comfort of others or the expectations of society.” And in a world where such comfort can still be hard-won, her message continues to resonate well beyond the confines of a First Class cabin.