‘Really get under our skim’: Georgia mother calls out TSA, questions their ethics after her disabled son is forced to continuously stand

A frustrated mother had shared a TikTok taken at an airport which shows her disabled son, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, being forced to stand by TSA agents. The video has sparked backlash online with people branding the agents “ridiculous” and “cruel.”

Two videos were posted by Lisa Colston with both receiving roughly three-and-a-half million views each. The clips show Colston’s son, Vince “Fresh the DJ” Colston, standing unsteadily while the TSA agents inspect him. In the caption, Lisa writes of the frustration towards the agents who she admits “are doing their job,” but adds how it tested her ability to stay calm.

“Idk how to avoid this,” Lisa writes, saying it took “allll of me to stay calm & keep Fresh calm!” The first video goes on for nearly four minutes as Vince is made to stand despite usually needing a walking aid to help him. He is checked over by the agent top to bottom with particular attention given to his arm brace before said agent calls over a manager as seen in the second part posted by Lisa. 

The manager then appears to examine the arm brace again for another minute before the video eventually cuts. It’s unclear exactly how long Vince was kept standing for but Lisa claims the agents were doing too much.

TikTok calls out the TSA agents

Viewers had many questions about the process, “I want to know exactly what he’s looking for,” wrote one person, “What exactly was he supposed to have hidden there ?” asked another. One viewer also asked “Isn’t this what the xray machine is for?” Although it’s unclear exactly what scanners can and can’t see. Others asked questioned why it went on for so long, especially considering Vince seems somewhat unsteady while standing in the video.

One viewer did offer an explanation which explained why such a difficult process was necessary in this situation as they claimed it was clear Vince could not go through the scanners so “to ensure the same level of screening they must conduct a pat down of the passenger.” Another person who claimed to work at an airport stated that “it’s just a natural procedure that has to be followed.” While it might seem overly cautious, it’s important for TSA to do their jobs professionally.

Regardless, many still sympathized with the son and mother’s predicament. Lisa’s account is dedicated to helping people who suffered traumatic brain injuries at her nonprofit gym in Atlanta, GA. Her son, Vince, also known as Fresh the DJ, is a musical artist who was hit by a car in 2022 resulting in a TBI.

The video of Vince and the TSA agents is an example of the kind of challenges many disabled people still have to deal with. While it may be standard practice for safety, it doesn’t make it any easier for those like Lisa and Vince who have to go through it.