“I just remember crying”: JWoww shares the airport moment with her son that changed everything

Jenni Farley didn’t know what sensory processing disorder was—…until she faced a moment many parents of autistic kids know too well.

During her appearance on Kylie Kelce’s podcast Not Gonna Lie, Jenni “JWoww” Farley shared one of the most painful moments of her parenting journey: a public meltdown involving her then-newly diagnosed son.

“My son got diagnosed with autism,” she explained. “We were sitting in TSA, and he decided he didn’t like that. He ripped my glasses off, broke them, and head-butted me.”

Farley, who was alone at the time, tried to manage the situation—but it was the reaction from everyone else that haunts her.

“Everybody’s phones go up. Everyone recording JWoww with her son who is throwing a tantrum in the airport. I just remember crying.”

What Jenni didn’t know then was that her son wasn’t misbehaving—he was overwhelmed. And like many autistic children, he was trying to communicate the only way his body could.

She didn’t know then that her son was experiencing sensory overload. “Nobody explained to me what sensory meant,” she said. “That there are going to be challenges with lights or lines. That he didn’t like waiting and he hated delays”

Related: Becoming a sensory-aware parent: Understanding sensory processing disorder (SPD)

Farley eventually got through TSA, locked herself in a bathroom, and did what she had to do. She managed. She got on the plane. But she never forgot how isolating that moment felt.

What happened next changed everything.

A friend connected her to KultureCity, an organization that creates sensory-inclusive spaces across the U.S. Within 72 hours, they had turned a room in her house into a sensory haven for her son.

It wasn’t just the tools that helped—it was finally having language for what was happening. “I asked them, what can I do to be a part of your group? I want to help.”

She now sits on KultureCity’s board and is a fierce advocate for training, airport accommodations, and inclusive public spaces.

Farley’s message is simple: support, not shame, can change everything. “Through KultureCity, I just want to help. I don’t want to make you become the next meme or the next viral video…what if I put my phone down and helped?” she said. 

And while no one posted that video of her and her son, she knows countless parents haven’t been so lucky.

“I look at every parenting situation differently now,” Farley said. “I always give grace. I always step in to help.”

Related: The ‘sensational’ tot: Recognizing—and dealing with—Sensory Processing Disorder

For any parent navigating an autism diagnosis, she offers this: “Don’t wait. If you feel that your child isn’t meeting the right steps… Do what needs to be done. Early intervention is key. Mothers can be unstoppable, and you need to be unstoppable for your children.”

If you or someone you love is navigating an autism diagnosis:

• Autism Speaks
• KultureCity
• Contact your pediatrician for early intervention support in your area.

For more from autistic adults on sensory needs and advocacy, visit Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).