SYDNEY, Australia – US performer will.i.am has accused a Qantas flight attendant of racism, saying she was unjustified in calling the police on him after an altercation during an Australian domestic flight.
In a series of tweets, the Black Eyed Peas frontman on Saturday, November 16, said the woman was "overly aggressive" and unnecessarily escalated a situation after he didn't hear an on-board safety briefing.
Using the hashtag #RacistFlightAttendant William Adams – better known by his stage name will.i.am – said the attendant was "beyond rude" and "took it to the next level by calling the police", 5 of whom were waiting for him on arrival in Sydney following the 90-minute flight from Brisbane.
"Thank god the other passengers testified that SHE was out of control," he tweeted. "The police finally let me go."
He said he had complied "quickly & politely" with her instructions to put his laptop away.
"I don't want to believe she racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of color."
I’m currently on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney.
— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 16, 2019
I’m sorry to say me and my group have experienced they worse service due to a overly aggressive flight attendant...
I don’t want to believe she racist.
But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of colour
This is how your greeted when you land from Brisbane to Sydney flying @qantas with a #RacistFlightattendant named Lorraine Marshall...She sent the police after me bacause I couldn’t hear the P.A while making beats on the plane wearing noise canceling headphones... pic.twitter.com/9xT7WqTUoO
.@Qantas Your #RacistFlightattendant was beyond rude & took it to the next level by calling the police on me. thank god the other passengers testified that SHE was out of Control the police finally let me go. imagine if the police were as aggressive as Lorraine Marshall
I’m sorry? Is callin the police on a passenger for not hearing he P.A due to wearing noise canceling headphones appropriate? If didn’t put away my laptop “in a rapid 2min time” I’d understand. I did comply quickly & politely, only to be greeted by police. I think I was targeted https://t.co/8WVIuMKXJa
This is me filing a “proper complaint”...this way I know my complaint & treatment will be heard...I’m using the same tool you would use if you were wrongly accused of doing something & pulled away by police officers. I still don’t know what I did wrong for police to come https://t.co/i3ShYc3PaX
A Qantas spokesman said the Australian flag carrier "completely" rejected the suggestion that race was a factor in the incident.
"There was a misunderstanding on board, which seems to have been exacerbated by will.i.am wearing noise cancelling headphones and not being able to hear instructions from crew," he said.
"We'll be following up with will.i.am and wish him well for the rest of the tour."
The group ended a five-city Australia tour with a concert in Sydney on Saturday.
The incident came two months after the Australian twin-sister pop duo The Veronicas were removed from a Qantas flight by police officers after a disagreement with staff over luggage. – Rappler.com