Jason Derulo Accuses American Airlines Of Racial Profiling
Jason Derulo accuses American Airlines of racial profiling, after an incident at Miami International Airport that led him to being confronted by 15 police officers.
In a Facebook Live video, Derulo explains how he and his team tried to check about 20 bags but were told they weren’t allowed. A friend offers to take a later flight to travel with all their luggage, only to be told that would cost an extra $6,000. (As Key Concierge members, “we’d never paid for our bags because of our status, with all of our miles,” Derulo says to PEOPLE.)
So Derulo and his team asks that the plane to be turned around, though for the captain to curse them out and be met by 15 police officers outside the gate. It wasn’t until police asked for his ID, Derulo says, that tension dissipated, which troubles him.
“That’s not OK,” he said to The Daily Mail. “You can’t treat me that way because I’m a celebrity or because I’m a social platform and they’re afraid. If I was an average Joe, I don’t know, I would be in handcuffs.”
On Instagram, his criticisms were even more pointed. “.@americanair I spent millions on your airline throughout the past ten years between myself and my entire staff but have still experienced racial discrimination today at miami airport!!!” he said.
Derulo says that he immediately complied with police when asked for his ID. However, an airline employee told Miami-Dade police that the pop star and his entourage initially refused, while “smell[ing] of marijuana and were getting aggressive” when they checked in. It’s also worth noting that in other accounts, Derulo said he was being charged an extra $4,000, and not $6,000, for his team’s luggage.
American Airlines tells PEOPLE that “the passenger has been rebooked with his checked bags” on a flight later that evening.
Watch Jason Derulo talk what happened below.
.@americanair I spent millions on your airline throughout the past ten years between myself and my entire staff but have still experienced racial discrimination today at miami airport!!! Called 15 police officers on me as if I’m a criminal! It’s not ok that when you find out who I am the gears change! Fuck that!! I want answers #conciergekey #conciergekeymember #thecaptainneedstoshowrespecttoo cause he could #cashmeoutsidehowboutdat #notypo #ifiwasanyoneelseiwouldhavebeenarrested
