Tracee Ellis Ross just gave “self-care on the go” a whole new meaning and not everyone’s here for it. The 52-year-old actress, and daughter of music legend Diana Ross, had fans cringing after sharing a now-viral Instagram video of her unusual pre-landing prep while flying first class.
In the clip, Ross, dressed casually in a T-shirt and sweatpants, was seen lounging in a spacious luxury pod before going full grooming mode mid-flight. At one point, she stretched her legs straight over her head, reached under her shirt, and began an intense session of scrubbing and scratching.
“I do not play when it comes to self-care on long flights!” she captioned the post. “Please enjoy a bit of my pre-landing prep routine. I dry brush, remove the compression thigh highs, dry brush some more, stretch, then I do some lymphatic body percussion, finish up that water, and look for some sunshine.”
Tracee Ellis Ross Sparks Outrage With Bizarre In-Flight Beauty Routine
While Ross framed the moment as harmless wellness, plenty of followers weren’t buying it. The comments section lit up with criticism, branding the in-flight spa moment “gross” and “unsanitary.” “Super gross and inconsiderate,” one person wrote. Another added bluntly, “The most disgusting and unhygienic thing to do.” A third comment read, “All I can think about is all that dead skin in that pod. I love you girl but this is inconsiderate of the next person that has to sit there and the ppl that have to clean it.”
Others took a different approach, with one fan joking, “Now Tracee, my sister in Christ, how can I do this in seat 26B in my Delta Economy seat!?!” Another admitted they wanted to be “exactly this wealthy and health conscience,” while others praised her for being “authentic and real.”

The in-flight controversy isn’t the first time Tracee has found herself at the center of an unexpected travel backlash. Ahead of the premiere of her new Roku series, “Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross,” the actress, former model, entrepreneur, and Diana Ross heir took the stage at the Travel + Leisure Summit to share a simple packing tip. She always keeps two pairs of underwear in her carry-on to rotate and handwash in case her checked luggage gets lost.
Whether it’s airborne beauty rituals or carry-on underwear confessions, Tracee Ellis Ross has proven she’s unafraid to share her unfiltered travel truths, even if it means sparking a few internet meltdowns along the way. Love it or hate it, she’s keeping her journey unapologetically hers.