Southwest Sorry For Mocking 5-Year-Old's Unusual Name

NEWPORT BEACH, CA —Mother Traci Redford was forced to speak her mind when a Southwest gate attendant mocked her 5-year-old daughter Abcde's unique name in November.

Though the girl's name is spelled Abcde, it is pronounced Ab-city. She has a beautiful smile, her mother's eyes, and according to a report by ABC7's Veronica Miracle, recently learned the lesson--too young--that not everyone is nice.

The pair were pre-boarding a Southwest Airlines flight from Orange County's John Wayne Airport to El Paso when her daughter was name-shamed, according to Redford.

While checking in for their flight, a Southwest Airlines gate agent snapped a photo of Abcde's boarding pass. Then, according to Redford, laughed about the child's name, while pointing toward the mother, daughter duo.

"I turned around and said, 'If I can hear you, my daughter can hear you. I'd appreciate it if you'd stop,'" Redford said.

Redford thought it was over until she learned one of the employees posted her child's boarding pass on social media.

"She said 'Mom, why is she laughing at my name?'" Redford said in an interview. She told her daughter that "not everyone is nice, and not everyone is going to be nice, and it's unfortunate.'"

After becoming the brunt of a joke with the airline attendants at John Wayne Airport, the airline released an apology when they learned of the posting.

Anddd here’s the full story... https://t.co/jjn3LcdGPW
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) November 29, 2018

The company, which is based in Dallas released the following statement Thursday.

"We extend our sincere apology to the family. We take great pride in extending our Southwest Hospitality to all of our Customers, which includes living by the Golden Rule and treating every individual with respect, in person or online," the statement read. "The [social media] post is not indicative of the care, respect, and civility we expect from all of our Employees. We have followed up with the Employee involved, and while we do not disclose personnel actions publicly, we are using this as an opportunity to reinforce our policies and emphasize our expectations for all Employees."

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Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images