TikToker Warns Women To “Always Keep Your Head On A Swivel” After She Was Followed Through The Airport
With smartphones constantly in our back pockets or purses, it can be easy to dive down the social media rabbit hole.
But, it is crucial for women to ignore screen time temptations and always be aware of their surroundings.
Heather O’Keefe, also known as former Miss Montana, recently emphasized this unfortunate reality after suffering an uncomfortable experience at the airport.
While traveling alone, Heather noticed that a man had been following her throughout the airport and recording her. She took to TikTok to share her realization.
“LADIES! Always, but especially while traveling, keep your head on a swivel,” Heather explained.
“This man in the white hoodie followed me around the airport for thirty minutes while videoing me on his phone until I started recording him back. Then, I showed my video to the airport security guard.”
“If you ever feel unsafe, do not be afraid to alert authorities immediately!”
Heather’s TikTok reached nearly 5 million people and gained almost one hundred and sixty thousand likes.
TikTok; pictured above is Heather in one of her videos
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Shockingly, hundreds of commenters actually downplayed Heather’s experience. They stated that the man could have been playing a camera-operated game, like Pokemon Go, or just “creating content.”
Nonetheless, Heather would much rather be safe than sorry.
Many viewers also wanted more context and were intrigued as to what happened after Heather alerted authorities. She created numerous follow-up videos detailing the entire ordeal.
“I was at the airport walking to my gate and minding my own business,” Heather explained. “I was walking one way, and the guy was walking toward me.”
“We briefly made eye contact as he walked past me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pull out his phone, turn around, and start walking in my direction.”
She also noticed that the man was not holding his phone at the normal, slanted angle. Instead, he was apparently holding it completely vertically as if he was recording her.
So, she made a “fake stop” to see what the man would do. He allegedly continued following her.
“I stopped at a garbage can to fake throw something away from my purse. The guy also stopped, and, once I started walking again, he began walking,” Heather said.
“I made multiple laps around the airport, and every time I came back out, that guy was right there,” she continued.
At this point, Heather felt very freaked out. The following had actually become so obvious that a bystander apparently approached Heather to help. They asked if she was okay and said the man was followed and recorded her.
“I was like no, I am not okay, please help me. So the nice gentleman walked me to my gate, but he had a flight to catch. My flight was delayed, so I was by myself again,” Heather said.
Eventually, she approached a gate attendant and explained the situation. Heather also showed the now-viral video she shared of the man on TikTok.
It turns out that the man was actually traveling on the same flight as Heather, and airport security told her to alert a flight attendant if he became bothersome during air travel.
Out of caution, Heather did show a flight attendant the video after boarding just to be safe.
“She was like, ‘That is so weird. I am going to tell the pilot and have security meet us at JFK.'” Heather recalled.
After landing in New York, Heather did have a security officer escort her to an Uber. Additionally, the officer apparently encouraged Heather to file a police report against the man.
“They questioned the man and searched his phone,” Heather said. “Long story short, they did not have a ‘crime’ to arrest him for, so they let him go.”
“But, I filed the police report anyway just to have documentation in case of anything.”
She did update the TikTok community a week later and shared that the man was convicted of aggravated stalking. In turn, Heather is simply glad she followed up on her gut instinct.
“Always be safe, ladies,” Heather added. “Never let anyone tell you that your feelings are invalid. If you do not feel safe, do something about it. See something, say something, and listen to your gut because it is usually right.”
To watch the original TikTok, visit the link here.
@attorney.heather Reply to @alisonkay part 4 THEY ARE INVESTIGATING HIM #fyp
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