Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am accuses Qantas flight attendant of racism after cops were called due to an on-board incident – as fans slam him for naming and shaming the woman in blistering tweet
American singer will.i.am has accused a Qantas flight attendant of racism while on board a flight from Brisbane to Sydney on Saturday.
The 44-year-old rapper – real name William Adams – shared a scathing Twitter rant to fans after he believed he was the victim of racially-motivated abuse.
Will.i.am, who is visiting Australia as part of the RNB Fridays Live festival with his band Black Eyed Peas, also complained about having police greet him at the terminal after being ‘polite’ and respectful to crew members during his ordeal.
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Issues: Singer will.i.am, who’s real name is William Adam launched into a Twitter rant (pictured) after he believed he was abused by Qantas flight attendant because of his race
The singer wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m sorry to say me and my group have experienced the worst service due to an 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 then went on to specifically name the flight attendant and shared a shaky photo of a federal police officer, who greeted the group on disembarking the plane.
‘This is how you’re greeted when you land from Brisbane to Sydney flying @qantas with a #RacistFlightattendant,’ he wrote.
‘She sent the police after me because I couldn’t hear the P.A while making beats on the plane wearing noise cancelling headphones.’
However many were quick to jump to the defence of the flight attendant and criticised the star for naming and shaming her to his millions of followers.
Australian entertainment reporter Peter Ford was one of those most vocal in his criticism – calling on the rapper to tell his followers to stop abusing the Qantas employee he named.
‘Some of your many millions of followers have already starting abusing this woman. Hoping you ask them to stop,’ Mr Ford said.
A rough landing: will.i.am (pictured) was travelling from Brisbane ahead of a Black Eyed Peas concert in Sydney on Saturday night
Where is the love? Some were quick argue the woman was only doing her job and it was not right to name and shame her to his millions of followers
Following a brief Twitter exchange with the reporter, where the Where Is The Love singer defended his decision to publicly name the flight attendant, will.i.am posted an appeal to his followers to end the verbal tirade.
‘This type of disrespect and name calling is uncalled for – I don’t supper abuse and attacks like this,’ he wrote at about 5pm.
‘I hope that everyone can be more compassionate & understanding towards one another…because it was the lack of compassion that caused this.’
‘I’m sorry? Is callin’ the police on a passenger for not hearing he P.A due to wearing noise cancelling headphones appropriate?’ He wrote.
‘If I 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.’
Qantas hit back in a statement and laid the blame on the American singer.
Not happy! will.i.am said he followed instructions quickly and politely but initially could not hear the announcement due to his noise cancelling headphones
‘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,’ it wrote.
‘We completely reject the suggestion this had anything to do with race.
‘We’ll be following up with will.i.am and wish him well for the rest of the tour.’
The Australian Federal police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that they had responded to a request for assistance from an airline arriving into Sydney from Brisbane and spoke to the crew and passengers on board.
‘AFP officers met the flight on arrival and spoke to crew and passengers on board. No further action was required as a result. The AFP considers this matter finalised,’ a spokesperson said in a statement.
The woman believed to be the flight attendant has been contacted for comment.
Not happy! Qantas hit back in a statement and laid the blame on the American singer
