Woman Forced to Remove Nipple Piercings
By: Danielle Todesco
Updated: March 28, 2008
Thursday, we told you about a woman asked to remove her body piercing at a security check at Lubbock International Airport. Now, T.S.A. is standing by their security officer's decision.
In February, Mandi Hamlin was flying out of L.I.A. to Dallas and was pulled aside for a security screening when the metal alarm detected her nipple rings.
The T.S.A. agent requested Hamlin remove the piercing and even supplied a pair of pliers. Now Hamlin has hired well-known attorney Gloria Allred to handle the case. Folks here in town with similar piercings say they are outraged at the incident and are nervous to go through airport security.
Mandi Hamlin, Forced to Remove Piercings:
"It was just total humiliation in front of people who I have no idea who they were."
Jessica Castaneda, Professional Piercer:
"That's something that you don't share with the world. That's something that you do to make yourself happy. And to show a complete stranger that or have them take it out with a pair of pliers, I just think it's wrong."
In a statement, T.S.A. says, "They were acting to protect the passengers and crews of the flights."
