First class mistake: Greta Thunberg caught out on German trains slip-up
Climate change activist Greta Thunberg has been hit with a new wave of criticism online after a recently made speech and social media post were called out online.
The new attacks on the 16-year-old teenager came after she shared a picture of her journey home to Sweden after months of travelling the world calling for climate action.
Ms Thunberg shared a photograph of herself sitting on the floor of a train, surrounded by a heap of luggage onto her social media accounts.
She has kept vocal about her decision not to travel by plane, as they are considered major contributions to climate change.
"Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I'm finally on my way home!" the caption accompanying the image said.
The German railway company she was travelling with, Deutsche Bahn, quickly responded to Ms Thunberg’s post, wishing the young teen a safe journey home.
Noch schöner wäre es gewesen, wenn Du zusätzlich auch berichtet hättest, wie freundlich und kompetent Du von unserem Team an Deinem Sitzplatz in der Ersten Klasse betreut worden bist. #Greta 2/2
— Deutsche Bahn AG (@DB_Presse) 15 December 2019
Deutsche Bahn added the company were working hard on improving connections, trains and seats.
However, the German railway company later released a statement saying Ms Thunberg had a first-class seat between Kassel and Hamburg.
OMG even German Rail companies are now dunking on the fraud that is @GretaThunberg! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/aAQjJJNWAt
— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) 15 December 2019
The statement revealed further that other members of her team were sitting in first class from Frankfurt onwards.
Deutsche Bahn also took to twitter twice more to speak on Ms Thunberg's train travels through Germany.
"Dear #Greta, thank you for supporting us railroad workers in the fight against climate change! We were pleased that you were on the ICE 74 with us on Saturday. And with 100 per cent green electricity," the company posted.
So, young @GretaThunberg has apologized for saying something awful. Welcome to life. Forgive her. Hope she thinks twice. Also, I'm doubting these posts are hers alone. Greta has a movement behind her. This all feels sculpted. #Skeptical Consider this tweet and the reaction. #THNA pic.twitter.com/Bn6BOAglky
— Mike Opelka (@stuntbrain) 15 December 2019
Ms Thunberg later clarified that while she had initially been sitting on the floor, she later got a seat.
The teenager also added that while she did sit on the floor, it was not an attack against the railway line.
"This is no problem of course and I never said it was. Overcrowded trains is a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high!" she said.