A family has gone viral after the husband repeatedly got stopped at security for bringing in suspicious items.
Those items? Spices, and then workout powder—things that will almost certainly get some raised eyebrows at the airport.
Natalie Thomas Friedman, 45, has been married to husband Zach Friedman, 46, for 14 years, and described him to Newsweek as having “always been quite a character.”
“And neurotic,” she added. “Hence, bringing his own spices on vacation.”
When the family were stopped yet again on a recent trip, Thomas Friedman decided to take out her phone for a cheerful shaming of her husband, in a video which has racked up over 168,000 likes since being shared to her Instagram @nataliethomasfriedman on July 9.
It showed airport agents testing an item he had brought through security, going through his bags, as he gestured while trying to explain to them—and their young children looked distinctly unimpressed. The video then switched to the most recent incident, with Friedman being spoken to yet again.
Writer Thomas Friedman wrote on the video: “Last year, my husband was detained for bringing his spices on vacation. This year, it was his workout powder.”
Instagram @nataliethomasfriedman
She added in the caption: “He promised me he didn’t pack the super rare, hard-to-find generic sea salt. He did not, however, divulge the Ironman powder.”
Thomas Friedman explained sales worker Friedman is an excellent cook, and often cooks for the entire family on vacation, but she had “no idea” he was bringing his own spices from home, including his own special mixtures.
And despite the “debacle” of being caught with the spices, with “everyone making fun of him and my insisting he wouldn’t do it again, a year later, he struck again,” this time with his workout powder.
“I specifically asked him before we left if he brought spices and he said no. Well, he didn’t. But apparently, protein powder made it into his carry-on,” she said.
And this time their children, aged 11 and 7, “joined me in the heckling,” as their daughter shouted, “Not again” and their son asked “a dozen questions” on what was happening, what the powder was, and whether he’d get his bag back.
“I just rolled my eyes. And took out my phone. My followers, family and friends needed to be on the ride with us and share in another ridiculous moment,” she said.
And Instagram users responded in their droves, with the video viewed over 10.5 million times, with one commenter declaring they “appreciate the energy of bringing his own spices.”
Another admitted they brought sugar through security and were pulled over for it, and one was stopped for trail mix, and “sifted through it like I had weapons hiding inside.”
INstagram @nataliethomasfriedman
Had Thomas Friedman known what her husband was bringing on the trip, she would have either told him to leave it at home or, “at the very least,” to pack them in the suitcase.
The first time it happened, when they were questioned by security, “I thought someone forgot to throw out a water bottle or something. I couldn’t believe it when the woman pulled out an entire gallon Ziploc bag full of spices!”
Friedman was a good sport, and was happy for his wife to share the video to Instagram, but “neither of us thought it would have the response it did.”
“I try to use my platform to give others a laugh, at both of our expenses. We all need it in this crazy world we live in today,” she said. “We’re both happy it brought people together, in conversation, and provided a bright spot to their days.”
As for what the plan is going forward, Thomas Friedman, who lives in New Jersey, told Newsweek: “Next year, I’m flying alone! Either that, or inspecting all of his bags before leaving the house.”
Air travel can be stressful for different reasons, from long queues, security issues, cancellations and delays. Data from Statista suggests that in 2024, average satisfaction with airlines was around 77 percent.
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