This image was removed due to legal reasons.

This story has been updated to include comment from the Transportation Security Administration.

The video that CNN contributor Angela Rye posted of her airport security screening starts normally enough, with Rye being asked to stand with her arms raised at her sides.

But the video gets increasingly uncomfortable to watch as the screening continues, until the female Transportation Security Administration officer spends several long seconds sweeping her hands around Rye's genital area.


The incident was traumatic enough that the video–which she posted online with the hashtag #TSAVaginaMonologues late Thursday night–ends with Rye in tears.


In a series of follow-up tweets, Rye wrote that, though she walked through the TSA's full body scanner before a flight to New York City without incident, she was still selected for an additional random screening.

When she refused a patdown, Rye said that they called over a police officer, who she asked to film the run-in.


She also explained that, when faced with no other choice, she wanted her patdown to be done in public, rather behind closed doors.



Rye did not hesitate to clap back against those who questioned whether her experience was truly a big deal.


After passing through security, Rye posted a short video, in which, visibly shaken, she described the incident as "traumatic," saying "the TSA grabs vaginas like Donald Trump."

"I've never been a victim of unwanted touching until today," Rye explained. "I cannot imagine what someone who's been raped, someone who's been molested, someone who's been touched in a way that they don't want to be touched—I cannot imagine how they would feel in this process. I literally started crying while it was happening."


"It’s not right," she stated.

In a statement to Fusion, a representative from the TSA wrote:



The Transportation Security Administration takes reports of alleged impropriety very seriously. TSA is currently looking into the specific details as to what occurred during the screening process to ensure our security protocols were followed. We regret any distress the security screening process may have caused the passenger. We have reached out to the passenger and will work with her directly to address her concerns.


According to Rye, an incident report has been filed.