Hip hop icon will.i.am accuses Qantas hostess of racism
The in-flight blow-up which led to singer will.i.am accusing a Qantas flight attendant of being racist was sparked by an altercation involving 50 Cent guitarist, Travis Ferguson, witnesses have claimed, with one saying the crew “didn’t say any racist words but they only treated the black people that way”.
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An in-flight blow-up that resulted in hip hop star will.i.am accusing a Qantas flight attendant of racism was sparked by rapper 50 Cent’s guitarist, according to a witness.
The 44-year-old musician claimed he had an “aggressive” encounter with a Qantas employee on his business class flight on Saturday ahead of the Black Eyed Peas’ show at Homebush.
Will.i.am went on to name the female attendant he accused of targeting him, posting a photograph from her Facebook page on his Twitter feed and claiming she treated him differently because of his race.
The artist was flying from Brisbane to perform with his band, the Black Eyed Peas, in Homebush on Saturday night as part of a show that featured Janet Jackson and 50 Cent.
According to another passenger, who declined to be named, tensions with the flight staff escalated on the Brisbane tarmac when a flight attendant told 50 Cent guitarist, Travis Ferguson, he could not have his guitar on board and would have to check it in.
The passenger said Ferguson left the plane but returned with the instrument, saying a different cabin crew member said he could take it aboard.
A further disagreement ensued.
“He (Ferguson) says ‘That’s ridiculous’ and ‘I’m done with this discussion’ and gets his phone out and the flight attendant says ‘Look at me when I’m talking to you’,” the passenger said.
According to the passenger, a second flight attendant then said words to the effect: “If you have a problem you can get off my plane,” and spoke to them about respecting flight staff.
“All this is happening behind will.i.am and he’s got his noise-cancelling headphones on, so he is oblivious,” the passenger said.
There was then a heated exchange between will.i.am and the second flight attendant when he didn’t close his laptop and kept his headphones on during the safety demonstration, the passenger said.
When the plane landed in Sydney, the passenger said two police officers came on board and spoke to will.i.am.
“(At one stage) one of the Black Eyed Peas guys got his phone out and started recording and the flight attendant says ‘You have to delete that’,” the passenger said.
“She demanded to see his phone to check he had deleted it.”
Asked if the crew were racist towards will.i.am, the passenger said: “They didn’t say any racist words, but they only treated the black people that way.”
The Sunday Telegraph put the above account to a Qantas spokesman who declined to comment beyond an earlier statement which denied racism.
“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 Qantas spokesman said.
“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 version on will.i.am’s Twitter feed, which began about 12.30pm on Saturday, described the attendant as “overly aggressive … I don’t want to believe she racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of colour,” he wrote.
The artist, whose real name is William Adams, also posted a picture of a police officer at Sydney Airport.
“This is how your greeted when you land from Brisbane to Sydney flying @qantas with a #RacistFlightattendant …,” he wrote.
“She sent the police after me bacause (sic) I couldn’t hear the PA while making beats on the plane wearing noise cancelling headphones…”
Asked if the flight attendant would be disciplined or counselled, the Qantas spokesman said: “We’re looking into what occurred.”
Australian Federal Police said officers attended Sydney Airport and spoke to will.i.am and his entourage and no further action was taken.
“The AFP considers the matter finalised,” the spokeswoman said.