Rapper will.i.am asked to back down over racism claim on Qantas flight

The Black Eyed Peas star has defended his behaviour on a flight after Qantas called on him to back down over claims a flight attendant was racist.

Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am has defended his use of noise cancelling headphones on a Qantas flight as he continues to rage against the airline after an allegedly racist incident.

Qantas has suggested will.i.am’s use of the headphones may have “execerbated” a misunderstanding on Saturday’s flight from Brisbane to Sydney, which resulted in the rapper accusing a flight attendant of being racist towards him.

The airline has called on will.i.am to retract his claim after he publicly named the flight attendant involved.

It is understood the American star refused to show his boarding pass and ignored safety directions to stow his laptop as the flight prepared to land in Sydney.

However, he claims he had not heard announcements over the PA because he was wearing noise-cancelling headphones.

Last night will.i.am defended his use of the headphones after a Twitter user said the “‘noise cancelling headphones’ excuse just doesn’t work”.

“We live in 2019 & technology is advancing...they have WiFi is certain planes & noise canceling is becoming a standard,” will.i.am shot back.

“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.”

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

Earlier, Qantas launched an impassioned defence of its staff and called on will.i.am to retract his racism claims. If the rapper didn’t back down, the airline said it would help any staffer’s battle in court.

“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 Qantas spokesman told news.com.au on Monday afternoon.

The rapper named and posted a photo of the staff member — who news.com.au is not naming for legal reasons — after the flight.

While he was still on the plane, will.i.am told his 12.8 million followers he had been mistreated by 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 said.

Qantas has now also sent a memo to staff, stating that it’s asking will.i.am for a retraction of the claim.

“The tweets claimed poor treatment from crew and discrimination on the basis of race. We replied that there appeared to be a misunderstanding on-board that was exacerbated by the fact will.i.am was wearing noise cancelling headphones,” the memo reads.

Rapper will.i.am claims he was targeted because of his race. Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

“We rejected claims of racism and have since asked will.i.am for a retraction of that claim. We fully support our crew and the great work they do ensuring safety of all those on-board.”

Will.i.am is also copping criticism from a flight attendants association for revealing the identity of the staff member whom he’s accused.

He said the incident took place as the crew was preparing to land the flight in Sydney, and it’s understood he refused to show his boarding pass and ignored safety directions to stow his laptop.

However, he claims he had not heard announcements over the PA because he was wearing noise-cancelling headphones.

The female flight attendant has been bombarded with abuse on social media from the musician’s fans who have labelled Qantas the “white ­supremacist airline”.

Will.i.am’s decision to identify her has been criticised by the Flight Attendants Association of Australia secretary Teri O’Toole, who said the crew member is being abused for simply doing her job.

She told The Australian takeoff and landing were “critical operational times”, and a flying laptop could cause ­serious injury to another passenger or crew member.

“These are safety protocols that have been put in place by Qantas,” Ms O’Toole said. “As employees, crew are bound to follow their employer’s direction. It seems that in doing this, crew are being vilified and ­attacked on ­social media.”

Facing similar criticism on social media, will.i.am tweeted that if he was the “slightest bit rude to a FAN or a journalist during work” we would expect to be called on Twitter too.

If I did something wrong....or if I was the slightest bit rude to a FAN or a journalist during work, I would be publicly named...this is what Twitter is for...we are supposed to call out wrong doings so we can have a safer more compassionate world https://t.co/au4ibWeqWY

— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 16, 2019

When the plane landed on Saturday, will.i.am 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 went on to allege 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”.

He later defended his actions to the Sunday Telegraph.

“I’ve never seen this, it was like a police state,” will.i.am told the publication.

“I am the coolest traveller, I don’t ask for much. I try to stay out of their way. I come on the plane to go to sleep or I go to work.

“I wish no harm to that lady, hopefully this is a lesson,” he said.

“She shouldn’t lose her job over it — if anything she should be retrained on how to deal with people. This is an opportunity to be pleasant to everyone, to just be nice.”

The singer also retweeted a couple of people who said they were on the same flight, and agreed with him.

Have a goodnight...Twitter is the people’s tool...rich and poor...a tool to use when things go wrong...it allows people can FEEL directly from the people that have FEELINGS...today I FELT discrimination...and I spoke for all the other people who are voiceless https://t.co/mZnXmVp0CT

— will.i.am (@iamwill) November 16, 2019

Meanwhile, Sunday morning brought a twist in the story when Australian band The Veronicas tweeted “in support” of the singer, claiming the same flight attendant was involved in an incident with them as well.

“We feel sickened she was given no reprisal and has instead continued to abuse her position, discriminate and misuse the full force and intimidation of the Australian Federal Police to her agenda,” they tweeted.

“Qantas should have run a genuine investigation into the matter instead of shifting blame and denying accountability.”

RELATED: Veronicas kicked off flight after baggage mishap

RELATED: Veronicas fly with Virgin after Qantas feud

Sisters Lisa and Jess Origliasso made headlines after they were “embarrassingly” removed from a Qantas aircraft by three federal police.

Qantas’ celebrity spat in September with The Veronicas kicked off on the same route but travelling in the opposite direction, from Sydney to Brisbane.

It resulted in the plane being stuck on the tarmac for 45 minutes.

The Veronicas are performing at the Tour Down Under opening night. Picture: Supplied.

There were conflicting accounts from passengers at the time, with some backing the sisters’ assertions that Qantas had been unreasonable and others accusing the pair of being “belligerent”.

Qantas said they had “refused to follow crew instructions and were offloaded”.

Originally published as Rapper will.i.am asked to back down over racism claim on Qantas flight