|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Marlon Wayans and United Airlines are currently in dispute after an incident regarding his luggage at Denver International Airport on Friday.
According to an Instagram post, when boarding his flight to Kansas City, Missouri, a gate agent asked the actor to consolidate and gate-check an oversized bag. At which point Wayans grabbed his ticket from the counter and attempted to board the plane.
United Airlines confirmed the affair in a statement saying, “A customer who had been told he would have to gate-check his bag instead pushed past a United employee at the jet bridge and attempted to board the aircraft.”
The Denver Police Department issued Wayans a citation for disturbing the peace as a result of the incident.
Accusations of Discrimination
Wayans has since accused United Airlines and several employees involved in the event of “harassment” and “racism.”
“Black people [face] all kinds of racism and classism. I won’t allow this. Over a bag?”
The altercation with Wayans is not the first time the airline has been accused of identity-based harassment. In 2022, a former diversity and inclusion manager for the Chicago branch of United Airlines sued for discriminatory language and behavior in the workplace.
The Denver branch has also previously faced backlash for age-based discrimination against its own employees in 2013 resulting in a $2 million lawsuit.
Despite a history of allegations, and against Wayans’ claims, United Airlines is standing in support of the gate agent who interacted with the actor.
According to Wayans, no one from the airline has reached out to him regarding the accused harassment, and he “won’t stop until it’s appropriately remedied.”
I had several helpful employees on this journey but this particular one was targeted and hateful. Good companies sometime hire bad people @united owes my fans and myself some reparations for his actions. I will continue to go in until it’s remedy. Sadly nobody has reached out…
— marlon wayans (@MarlonWayans) June 10, 2023
Wayans is demanding an apology from United Airlines, and financial compensation for his missed shows at the Kansas City Improv Comedy Club. The actor will return to Denver in July to appear in court for his charges. He plans to involve his lawyers in the incident
Written by Elena Wilson
Sources:
USA Today: Marlon Wayans accuses United of ‘racism and classism’ after he’s pulled off flight over baggage; by Naledi Ushe
CNN: Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans cited for disturbing the peace at Denver airport, authorities say; by Ashley R. Williams
WGN: Former diversity manager at United sues over discrimination; by Meghan Dwyer
9News: United Airlines to pay out more than $2M in age discrimination lawsuit; by Angeline McCall
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Matt Walter‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Ricky Romero‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License