Comedian Eric André accuses Aussie airport of 'racial profiling' after flying Qantas
In a video posted online on Monday, Eric André claimed he was 'put in a special line' after landing at Melbourne Airport.
US comedian Eric André has accused authorities at Melbourne Airport of “racial profiling” after he was allegedly detained following a Qantas flight. In a video posted online on Monday, the creator and host of The Eric André Show said he was stopped at the airport while travelling from LA through to Brisbane for an upcoming project.
“I got pulled out of a lineup and put in a special line in Melbourne where I was sniffed thoroughly by a dog,” he claimed. “It’s like one of the many times I’ve been racially profiled at the airport.”
André said the incident left him feeling unsafe and urged any “black, brown and indigenous people” traveling through Qantas’ T2 terminal to “please be careful”.
Eric André says he doesn't feel safe at Melbourne Airport
The actor alleged officers with the Australian Border Force were only targeting people of colour and urged anyone watching the footage to provide him with more information about the “cockamamie procedure” and recommend a discrimination lawyer within the country.
“It’s unethical and it’s not safe. It’s providing a less safe experience for black, brown, indigenous and immigrant passengers. It’s has nothing to do with safety — it has everything to do with racial harassment,” he argued.
André also urged Aussie companies that wish to hire him to only book him flights into Brisbane or Sydney directly.
“I do not feel safe in the Melbourne Airport,” he said. “I do not want to be humiliated or racially discriminated against anymore at these airports.
“I don’t want to cut my hair and wear a three piece suit so that I’m treated like a first class citizen. I shouldn’t be made to feel that I am unaccepted by entering a country.”
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Melbourne Airport responds to racial profiling claims
A spokesperson for Melbourne Airport insisted to Yahoo News it does “not tolerate racism in any form”.
“We welcome all passengers to Melbourne, and we expect everyone to be treated equally,” the spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“Upon being made aware of Mr André’s complaint, we immediately asked the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the government agencies in charge of processing all international arrivals into Australia, including at Melbourne Airport, to investigate.
“Those agencies have now provided a response to Mr André.”
A spokesperson for the Australian Border Force commented on André’s Instagram post saying they “have confirmed that this was not an ABF detector dog or interaction”.
Yahoo News Australia has also contacted the ABF and Qantas for comment.
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