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Black Eyed Peas star Will.I.Am has called a Qantas flight attendant for allegedly being a ‘racist’ following an experience on board a flight from Brisbane to Sydney today November 16.
The singer who is performing with his bandmates in Auckland on Sunday night for Friday Jams along with pop superstar Janet Jackson, 50 Cent and Jason Derulo, said the ‘overly-aggressive’ flight attendant tried getting him arrested because he couldn’t hear her through his noise-cancelling headphones.
“I’m sorry to say me and my group have experienced they (sic) 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,” he tweeted.
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Will.I.Am said the incident happened about 20 minutes into the flight and when the plane landed, he was met by five police officers who let him go without further incident.
“Qantas, your racist flight attendant was beyond rude and 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,” he said.“Is calling the police on a passenger for not hearing the PA due to wearing noise cancelling headphones appropriate?“I did comply quickly and politely, only to be greeted by police. I think I was targeted.”He further alleged that the flight attendant “singled every person of colour in the flight and gave them a hard time”, and that “other passengers on the flight agreed that she was out of hand”.
I put away my laptop when she asked…why would she feel threatened by me to call the police? What did I do wrong? I wasn’t out of hand.. I was polite & did what she asked… now you’re asking me to take abuse? Others on board the flight also took to Twitter to corroborate the rapper’s account. Reacting to the allegation, Qantas said the incident had nothing to do with race.
“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,” a spokesman said in a statement.“We’ll be following up with will.i.am and wish him well for the rest of the tour.”