An American millionaire has provoked a reaction from many netizens, claiming on Twitter that he offered a passenger on a plane $100,000 to take off her mask.
Steve Kirsch, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur believed to be behind one of the first optical mice for computers, said he made the suggestion from a woman who was sitting next to him in first class on a Delta corporate flight .
Mr Kirsch says he told his seatmate the masks weren’t working and said the woman worked for a pharmaceutical company.
The entrepreneur allegedly argued that the passenger would remove her mask to eat her meal anyway; what she was doing when lunch was served, Steve Kirsch points out.
The millionaire mentions that he initially offered the woman $100. Then, faced with her refusal, he reportedly upped the bid to $100,000, but his seat neighbor never gave in to Mr. Kirsch’s request.
I am currently boarding a Delta flight. The person sitting next to me in first class refused $100,000 to take off their mask for the entire flight. No joke. This was after I explained that they don’t work. She works for a pharmaceutical company. pic.twitter.com/Q8Hwzhkmxf
—Steve Kirsch (@stkirsch) March 10, 2023
On Twitter, some supported Steve Kirsch’s approach, while others found his behavior rather questionable.
Here are some of the reactions received:
“Is it your habit to offer a stranger money to discover part of her body mid-flight?”
“It’s very strange, don’t you understand? This story has it all: the request, the approach, and the idea of tweeting it all.
“How does his mask bother you?”
“There are cheaper ways to let people know you’re an idiot.”
“All you do is admit that you have harassed and patronized a woman who has made a decision that you believe is best for her.”