Kelis thinks Brits are racist. Remember her? No, me either.

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**Albatross**

Singer Kelis 'racially abused' at by UK man at airport

R&B star Kelis has claimed she was racially abused by a UK man at an airport, and claimed "racial issues in the UK are disgusting."

The star was flying from London to Spain after performing at Bestival on the Isle of Wight.

She wrote on Twitter that she had been criticised by a "50-year-old man" after she jumped the queue while going through passport control.

She said the man had called her a "slave" and a "disgusting Nigerian".

Kelis said she was also called "Kunta Kinte" - a black character from Alex Haley's slavery novel Roots.

The 32-year-old singer continued: "I didn't say anything at the time of the riots in London for a lot of reasons.

"It's [the UK] racially decades behind progression because everything is swept under the rug. People don't talk about it.

"People don't fight about it. Not mentioning a problem doesn't make it go away."

Officials from the Home Office say they won't be investigating the claims as they believe the abuser was a member of the public and they haven't received a complaint from her.

Best known for tracks like Milkshake and Acapella Kelis has had 10 top ten singles in the UK.

What absolute nonsense. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure she was feeling tired and emotional after both her flight, and the unpleasant incident in the airport - but her statements are completely ignorant. One bigoted man does not make the whole of the UK racially backward. London is one of the most racially diverse cities in the world, and I very much doubt that the UK is any more racist than the US - in fact, I think the reverse is probably true. I'm inclined to think that this is yet another example of an American 'star' crying because they aren't treated like royalty at our airports, and are made to queue and go through security like the rest of the riff-raff. There are procedures. Follow them. Don't be surprised if people get annoyed when you don't.

**sarpedons-right-hand**

Hmmm, sounds like her milkshakes gone a little sour!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Edit: on the other hand its nice to see such a well read racist....not many ignorant bigots have read 'Roots'.....

**Carmine the Wolf**

The common delusion that the US has dealt with its race issues and stands as a shining example of tolerance and integration is a rather sad one; the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

It's odd that the man called her a "slave" and a "Nigerian", I don't see the connection at all there, and wasn't "Kunta Kinte" a bloke? He must have been as he was played by Levar Burton in the tv series.

In reality it would have been far more accurate and not at all racist to call her a "Rude American Cow" for pushing into the line.

And in addition, does anyone else find Americans who complain about the strictness of passport control in the UK slightly odd when the likely reaction to a Brit calling their own immigration control a bit draconian would probably get the old "we got the right to protect our damn borders!" response?

**Azza007**

Carmine the Wolf wrote:The common delusion that the US has dealt with its race issues and stands as a shining example of tolerance and integration is a rather sad one; the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

It's odd that the man called her a "slave" and a "Nigerian", I don't see the connection at all there, and wasn't "Kunta Kinte" a bloke? He must have been as he was played by Levar Burton in the tv series.

In reality it would have been far more accurate and not at all racist to call her a "Rude American Cow" for pushing into the line.

And in addition, does anyone else find Americans who complain about the strictness of passport control in the UK slightly odd when the likely reaction to a Brit calling their own immigration control a bit draconian would probably get the old "we got the right to protect our damn borders!" response?

+1. Your right about Kinte, he was a bloke.

**Albatross**

I'm betting he probably just called her a ****, not Kunta Kinte....

**Carmine the Wolf**

I just sprayed coffee on the screen...you have to be right.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Going on the handful of londoners I've met over the years, and the apparent love they have for that word, yeah, that wouldn't surprise me. Throw in a cockney accent, and I doubt she could make out half of what he was saying.

Doesn't let him off from being a racist muppet mind, just doubtful someone like that has read or looked up roots.

**Carmine the Wolf**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:Doesn't let him off from being a racist muppet mind, just doubtful someone like that has read or looked up roots.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

I just think that it's rich for a spoilt US star to make a gross generalisation about the UK population being racist.

**Phototoxin**

Mostly likely calling her a ****. Also SHE skipped the que. She clearly thinks she's better than him which is a type of arrogance and/or racism (the brits are inferior as they are racist?)

Also I must add as a foreigner in the UK I don't feel at all 'racisit-ed' by anyone

**Velour_Fog**

I'm not making excuses for the racist guy, but she did queue jump. That's a big no-no over here that will draw gasps of outrage.

**H.B.M.C.**

"Kelis said she was also called "Kunta Kinte" - a black character from Alex Haley's slavery novel Roots."

That's a very well-read racist. LOL!

**Kilkrazy**

Skarwael wrote:I'm not making excuses for the racist guy, but she did queue jump. That's a big no-no over here that will draw gasps of outrage.

Why would a US passport holder be in the British and EU passport holder queue anyway?

**notprop**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:

Going on the handful of londoners I've met over the years, and the apparent love they have for that word, yeah, that wouldn't surprise me. Throw in a cockney accent, and I doubt she could make out half of what he was saying.

Doesn't let him off from being a racist muppet mind, just doubtful someone like that has read or looked up roots.

Now I's darn't mine Kelis gettin' all indignant abowt ah Brit gettin a bit lairy, but darn't drag Lanndonas inner this.

We ave feelins too! er... you cant!

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Why would a US passport holder be in the British and EU passport holder queue anyway?

Quite.

He probably picked up on her accent and said, "WTF are you doin' in this rabbit stew ya stoopid Emmanuel Kant?! Can't ya read?

**Ahtman**

The few African (Algeria and the Congo) people I know haven't had nice things to say about their treatment in European customs so this doesn't surprise me. Of course she also over reacted in a very American way as well, which isn't surprising either. So really it is a "dog bites man" story.

**Avatar 720**

I don't care what you do in other countries, but in this country, you queue. You queue like your life depends on it.

I also love that the HO aren't investigating anything because it was a member of the public who said it, and she didn't make a formal complaint.

If she can't be bothered to queue or go through complaints proceedures like the rest of us, I can't be bothered to care about her life-threatening ordeal.

EDIT:ed for filbert.

**MrH**

1 Brit is racist, so the whole of Britain must be. Stupid bitch.

**notprop**

Sexist Brit!

I keed...I keed!

**Ahtman**

I have to say I'm surprised you guys are getting your panties in a bunch over something (and someone) so inconsequential.

**Albatross**

I don't know that we're getting our knickers in a twist about it. We're just discussing it. On a forum. That's what forums are for, here in Britain.

OK, granted, most British forums are dedicated to discussing how awful 'darkies' and 'coloureds' are, but still....

...y'know?

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.
But then some of your compatriots always react to a such slights with dignity and restraint.

The above reactions, far from knickers getting twisted, have taken the form of irony and peepee taking. Which doesn't surprise me.

**Ahtman**

Albatross wrote:I don't know that we're getting our knickers in a twist about it. We're just discussing it. On a forum. That's what forums are for, here in Britain.

OK, granted, most British forums are dedicated to discussing how awful 'darkies' and 'coloureds' are, but still....

...y'know?

Have you read any of the other posts in the thread? Someone referred to her as a stupid bitch. That isn't exactly high minded. It really isn't a discussion so much as a lot of whining and monocles popping off simultaneously followed by some harumphing over something two stupid people said/did. Some are joking but others, not so much. I just never realized how sensitive you were toward your que lines. The complaining about generalizations and then making generalizations is fairly funny as well.

**filbert**

It's queue, by the way...

/pedantry

**biccat**

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.

While I haven't had much experience with racism in MOE, I'm sure that it's a lot like everywhere else. The States aren't that racist, despite repeated portrayals of the Tea Party as a resurgence of the KKK.

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

**Avatar 720**

filbert wrote:It's queue, by the way...

/pedantry

I've only been up for 3 hours and my day has already gone down the crapper, so i'm slightly less bothered about spelling than I usually am.

**filbert**

It's OK - I get a nervous tick when I see queue spelled wrong and I have an overwhelming urge to correct that won't be satiated until I do.

Carry on.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Have no experience of racism either.
But I can assure you that while not perfect, race relations are a lot better than they were. To suggest that we are decades behind, somehow like it stll like it used to be iin the 60's in America, is very ill informed.

We have only had one side of the story and no idea what really went off.
TBH am sure it is possible that she had the great misfortune to chance on an obnoxious racist oaf. They sadly exist here, as am sure you do in the USA.
Judging an entire nation as racist based on the experience is not clever.

How come you guys haven't had a woman prezz?

**reds8n**

biccat wrote:

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

We're still getting over the female ones.

**biccat**

reds8n wrote:
biccat wrote:

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

We're still getting over the female ones.

It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:How come you guys haven't had a woman prezz?

We're working on it. Unfortunately, the pickings have been quite slim recently.

**reds8n**

biccat wrote:
It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

.... you seen her offspring ...?