Naomi Campbell: British Airways Used Racist Slur

LONDON (AP) _ Model Naomi Campbell says she is sorry she assaulted two police officers during a dispute about lost luggage aboard a British Airways plane. But she has refused to apologize to the airline, accusing it of racism.

British Airways strongly denied the charge.

Campbell, 38, was sentenced Friday to 200 hours of community service and fined 2,300 pounds ($4,600) after she pleaded guilty to kicking, spitting and swearing at the officers aboard a plane at Heathrow Airport in April.

In an interview with Sky News broadcast Saturday, Campbell said she regretted her behavior and said "I apologize profusely" to the police.

"As for British Airways, I don't apologize," she said.

Campbell accused British Airways staff of having racist attitudes.

"I was called a racial name on that flight," Campbell said, adding that her violent behavior "was part of my reaction." She did not say who had called her the name, but said it was not a passenger.

In a statement, British Airways said it "does not accept any allegations of racism."

"We are proud of our diversity. We fly to 90 different countries around the world and employ a multi-nationality work force," the airline said. "We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and have long-standing training programs on diversity and inclusion."

Campbell has a history of assaulting assistants and employees.

Last year, she was sentenced to a week of community service in New York City after admitting "reckless assault" for throwing a mobile phone at her housekeeper.

In 2000, she pleaded guilty in Toronto to an assault charge for beating an assistant while making a film in Canada.

Comments

[NoSillyName]

Wow, I learn something new here everyday. I read that whole article (link provided by bazokbros). Does this mean we can't use the word "Golly" anymore? Not that its used much now, but there is still, "Golly gee." or the song "Good Golly, Miss Molly". Sometimes its hard to know what is offensive to someone.

As for Ms. Campbell, she just can't stay out of the news. Its always something with her. Either she's throwing cell phones at assistants or falling down (drunk?) in airports.

The woman needs help.

[rzan1]

Why do we glorify fashion models? Modeling is the most useless profession in the universe. The smart ones see it only as a means to an end and go into acting or medical school or whatever. The dumb ones stay, and then move on to selling cosmetics in infomercials, etc. Think about it. Have you ever heard Kate Moss interviewed? - dumb as a stump. Yet women like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss are what so many girls and young women emulate.

[Sarahjan]

There is nothing wrong with Naomi Campbell, except she is rich, beautiful, black and not sexually available to exploited as millions of black women have been exploited every the centuries. One of the remarkable aspects of John Howard Gfiffin’s "Black Like Me" is the to extent to which lynching of black men in the south in the name of " protecting" the sexual purity and racial honour of white women had been used as over yo rationalize rampant white male sexual violence towards black women. White male sexual violence towards black women is the foundation of white racism. Yet, it is least researched topic in the US discourse on race. Yes, it is true that Naomi Campbell is rich but in the eyes of the white dominant culture, she can never be fully respectable.

[Wolfgang]

You should lay off that crack pipe Sarahjan. It's rotting out your brain. Try some grape soda. That should calm you down. BTW Naomi Campbell is just a spoiled rich bitch who is too used to getting her own way in everything. Throw her in jail with some real criminals and she will get all the respect that she deserves.

[NoSillyName]

I read "Black Like Me" a very long time ago, maybe in the mid-'60s. Griffin put his life on the line to reveal the extent of the racism of the '50s. Much has changed since then, and some things remain the same.

But, sorry Sarahjan, Campbell's behavior doesn't lend itself to respectability. The woman is a loose cannon.

[kathy001]

You made some very good points but none that were on-topic. And I completely disagree with your statement that because Naomi Campbell is black the white culture will never allow her to be fully respectable. Naomi Campbell is in control of her own respectability and her behavior - at least she should be. The fact the she obviously does not control her behavior is what ruins her image in the eyes of the entire world - not just the whites.

[steamboat]

I suspect the only racial slur in this incident may have come from Ms. Campbell herself.

[slobone]

She sure knows how to keep her name in the headlines.

And is it just me, or has she put on a pound or two? Or twenty?

[SwingVoter]

She looks perfect to me, at least physically.

[queotic]

Oh god. As a black woman, I am so tired of rich black celebrities playing the race card, like this or when Michael Jackson accused his record company of being racist. According to Wiki, she's been in trouble for violence on 12 different occasions. She has a nasty temper and it has nothing to do with race.

[SwingVoter]

What did they say, you 5exy chocolate?

[chronic]

Tyra Banks filled her audience in on Naomi a while back.

Naomi has a serious mental problem. SEEK THERAPY!

[uheardme]

I agree. Naomi may be bipolar.

[steamboat]

or an arrogant and rich and spoiled model.

[DrJimmy]

She is so right! It is racism !!!! However what she fails to understand is that she is the racist!!!
The way she continues to treat people for all different races.
CAMPBELL..­.......YOU ARE A RACIST!!!!!!!

[robXdion]

And you know her?

[el8usa]

Campbell's boyfriend is WHITE.....

Boyfriend: Andre Balazs (owner of Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, dated 2004-07)

[southafrica4obama]

Naomi is a disgrace to our black community. She's no longer a role model.

[uheardme]

Naomi is disgracing herself, not me or anyone else. She is a model, not a role model. Intelligent people know the difference.

[jimmy2001]

you forgot to add most of us know that she's got "issues"

[iluvsam]

This is a highly disturbed woman.

[Rustomji84]

She might have thought that creating scene might draw sympathy from colored, I am colored and it makes me mad that she misbehaved. I hope her producers throw her out .

[Kaos911]

Colored? What color are you? Or are you a runaway slave from the 50's?

[robXdion]

LOL!!!

[Trittydi]

To Campbell, everything is racism. She's incapable of looking at hr own behaviors in critical and honest evaluation. She throws genuine tantrums at the slightest provocation - often as a disproportionate response to some imagined slight.

What she needs is to grow up. Or - if self-control is simply beyond her ability - as seems the case - she should travel with a handler to help rescue her - and others - from herself.
*

[MTiffany]

Good thing for her she's got money. Otherwise she might really know what racism is.

[Jakealoper]

Sounds like another violent criminal playing the race card. She'd be quite at home here.

[rzan]

What a vicious thing to say.

[PaulUK]

She was lucky, if she had pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by the court she would have had a custodial sentence. Still the good thing is next time she looses it, she will be banged up.