‘It was embarrassing and aggressive’: Lady Leshurr claims she was ‘jostled, handcuffed and called a racist slur’ by an airport guard after admitting she has to work ‘ten times harder’ as a black woman
- The Dancing On Ice contestant said that she ‘didn’t even know she was black,’ until she grew up and noticed that people were treating her differently
- She claimed that she was manhandled and called a derogatory slur by an airport security guard before being handcuffed
- She also said she has to ‘work ten-times harder’ as a black woman but declared: ‘Whenever I have a no, I turn that into a yes’
- Lady opened up about her experience in an effort to promote the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in 2020
Lady Leshurr has claimed he was manhandled and called a derogatory slur by an airport security guard as she recalled the discrimination she has faced, based on the colour of her skin.
The Dancing On Ice contestant, 32, said on Friday that she ‘didn’t even know she was black,’ until she grew up and noticed that people were treating her differently.
She also said she has to ‘work ten-times harder’ as a black woman but declared: ‘Whenever I have a no, I turn that into a yes.’
Shocking: Lady Leshurr has claimed she was jostled and called a derogatory slur by an airport security guard as she recalled the discrimination she has faced, based on the colour of her skin
Speaking of her shocking airport incident in Spain in 2016, she said to The Mirror: ‘I was going back home from a show, I went into the Duty Free shops and I asked where the perfumes were.
‘I heard the security guard say, ”perra negra” – black b****. I asked, ”Did you just call me…?”
‘He got defensive. Then he reached for his handcuffs, and that’s when I was resisting because I was like, ”What are you doing?” There were people all around, filming, a lot were English, it was very embarrassing and aggressive.’
According to the rapper, the airport security attempted to remove her handcuffs but when they didn’t open, the guard proceeded to hit her arms, leaving cuts on her skin.
Candid: The Dancing On Ice contestant, 32, said on Friday that she ‘didn’t even know I was black,’ until she grew up and noticed that people were treating her differently
She was then taken to a separate room where she was interrogated by other staff members and treated ‘like a criminal.’
Amid accusations from security about her behaviour, she insisted that they watch CCTV footage to prove her innocence.
However, when they witnessed the video, they failed to apologise or even look at her, instead pointing to the door.
Lady admitted you ‘can’t replicate’ the emotions she experienced in that moment, as she felt pained, hurt and angry.
Adding insult to injury, she prepared to board her flight as she reunited with her friend, but the pair were turned away by staff after they were labelled ‘disruptive’.
With limited options, Lady was forced to spend the night in the airport and wait for another flight.
The lyricist, who grew up in Solihull in the West Midlands, said she never fell victim to racial discrimination as a child but has had to work ‘ten-times harder’ as an adult.
However, her struggles have motivated her career and now she always turns negatives into a positive, adding: ‘Whenever I have a no, I turn that into a yes.’
Lady opened up about her experience in an effort to promote the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in 2020 which sparked global outrage regarding the treatment of black citizens and police brutality.
She also ‘commended’ football ace, Marcus Rashford, for using his platform to expose racism on social media.
No holding back: She also said she has to ‘work ten-times harder’ as a black woman but declared: ‘Whenever I have a no, I turn that into a yes’