(AllHipHop News) will.i.am took to Twitter to accuse a Qantas flight attendant of racism while onboard an internal flight from Brisbane to Sydney in Australia on Saturday (November 16th).
“I’m sorry to say me and my group have experienced the worst service due to an overly aggressive flight attendant,” the Where Is the Love? star penned. “I don’t want to believe she racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of color.”
I don’t regret my actions of taking to public to speak for the other for those who don’t have the voice who felt the same disrespect… I am saddened that People chose to spread hate and attack… there were other people on the flight were disrespected https://t.co/IUy0hvETso https://t.co/V41bexQHjU
— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 16, 2019
The musician went on to complain about having police greet him at the terminal despite being “polite” and respectful to crew members during his ordeal, and shared a shaky photo of a federal police officer, who greeted the group on disembarking the plane.
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
— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 16, 2019
“This is how you’re greeted when you land from Brisbane to Sydney flying @qantas with a #RacistFlightattendant,” he added. “She sent the police after me because I couldn’t hear the P.A while making beats on the plane wearing noise-canceling headphones.”
I am in the public eye & I behave even when I have a bad day…my mother raised me to be polite & treat people with respect…being a public figure puts extra guards rails so I stay polite & serve…everyone should operate with respect. especially people who serve the public https://t.co/bDKRkNEPrj
— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 18, 2019
While the star was confronted by angry fans on the social networking site over his decision to name the flight attendant in his tweet, he defended the decision, insisting, “This type of disrespect and name-calling is uncalled for… I think I was targeted.”
We live in 2019 & technology is advancing…they have WiFi is certain planes & noise canceling is becoming a standard…people who serve the paying public need to know that passengers have on devices that block out outside sound…sending the POLICE after them is a bit much 🤷🏿♂️ https://t.co/CZHJaMFLUE
— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 18, 2019
However, a representative from Qantas rejected the singer’s claims, replying in a statement: “There was a misunderstanding on board, which seems to have been exacerbated by will.i.am wearing noise-canceling headphones and not being able to hear instructions from the crew.
In another statement, the company said they were siding with the flight attendant.
They also said will.I.am better issue a retraction or they are going to sue the rap star.
“Absent a retraction, and if the crew member wanted to take the matter further, we’d certainly be willing to provide legal support for them to do this,” a spokesperson for Qantas told CNN.