Influencer and Pickleball Coach Peter “Kobe” Nguyen Sparks Outrage After Being Caught Vaping on a Flight

6 August 2025

Peter “Kobe” Nguyen, who self-styles himself as a celebrity pickleball coach and claims status as an AI expert and agent, ignited backlash on August 6 after sharing a video capturing a confrontation with a flight attendant aboard an American Airlines flight. Nguyen had been vaping in the airplane lavatory, a violation under Federal Aviation Administration rules that carries a potential $1,771 fine, and when challenged, he recorded the crew member and accused her of opening the restroom door while he was inside. She rebuffed him, and when she attempted to stop the recording, Nguyen accused her of assault and demanded an apology.

Nguyen’s video portrayed the altercation as him being wronged in public, but the attempt to frame himself as the victim quickly unraveled online. In the clip Nguyen accuses the flight attendant of placing hands on him and insists he will leverage his 25,000 social media followers to pressure her into an apology. Responding to his threats, the attendant relented but viewers derided Nguyen’s behavior, calling for him to be barred from flying.

Social media and Reddit users called his conduct entitled and tone-deaf, pointing to how he weaponized influencer privilege to escalate what could have been a simple safety issue. One Redditor remarked: “What a sorry attempt to portray yourself as a victim,” while others echoed that no traveler should confront crew members over vaping during a flight. The video also sparked conversation about medical enforcement of FAA policy versus influencer arrogance at 30,000 feet.

Although Nguyen claims American Airlines has launched an investigation and suggests similar claims had been made previously, public sentiment has overwhelmingly sided with the flight attendant. Industry experts note that vaping aboard an aircraft is both unsafe and legally unacceptable. In Nguyen’s case the visuals did him no favors: footage of a puffed-out vape cloud and aggressive verbal exchange made him the story, not the airline.

What stood out most wasn’t the law itself, but the aftermath: Nguyen pressed for condemnation of the flight attendant, demanded apologies while invoking legal privilege, and threatened to release the video to his audience. Instead of support, he invited mockery and criticism. His followers counted in the tens of thousands, yet online commentary overwhelmingly rejected his framing, suggesting that social media reach does not confer moral or procedural authority.

The incident not only challenged influencer opacity but also shone light on airline policy enforcement and individual responsibility. Fans and critics alike opined that Nguyen’s conduct exemplified how influencers can escalate minor infractions into viral spectacles. Some have called for stronger protections for crew members against abusive passengers, influencer or not.

As regulations close in and airlines reinforce sanitation and safety rules, NGA and industry regulators may take a firmer line against repeat offenders. Nguyen’s case serves as a cautionary tale vaping in-flight invites fines, filming crew without consent can breach airline policy, and filming to shame staff creates reputational damage far worse than any viral moment.

In the end, Nguyen’s post may have intended to bolster his personal brand, but it achieved the opposite: sparking outcry, raising ethical questions about influencer entitlement, and illustrating that following FAA rules and common courtesy remains nonnegotiable, no matter how many followers you claim.