The British Airways Hostess Who Went On a Vulgar Racist Rant Has Been Fired

A British Airways employee who posted a video on Snapchat of her mocking Nigerian passengers has now been sacked.

The British Airways Hostess Who Went On a Vulgar Racist Rant Has Been Fired

A British Airways flight attendant who came under fire yesterday for posting a derogatory video showing her mocking Nigerians and making vulgar remarks about the size of Nigerian men's genitalia has now been fired, reports Daily Mail.

In a series of videos posted on Snapchat on Friday, Joanne Wickenden, a 23-year-old hostess and aspiring actress, can be heard complaining about Nigerian passengers asking for upgrades. "All the Nigerians are gonna be there like "gimme Coca Cola, gimme me beef, why you have no beef left? I want beef'," she said using a much Nigerian accent. She proceeded to make crass jokes about male body parts, claiming that Nigerians would ask for more leg room to accommodate oversized genitalia.

Wickenden is now claiming that the rant was a joke, and that she was provoked by her coworkers."I have been framed by another BA employee. They were encouraging me, egging me on to say things. They were recording me and sent it around to our friends," she told the Daily Mail. "I am not a racist."

Her claims of innocence did not stop the airline from sacking the hostess this morning, confirming that "she no longer works for British Airways."

"We expect the utmost professionalism from our staff when they are representing British Airways," said the airline in a statement on Tuesday. "We will not tolerate offensive comments about our customers and will always take the appropriate action."

Several folks have reacted to the crude and racially insensitive video on social media on Tuesday.

While we've seen airlines ignore such incidents in the past, we're glad that, at least time around, action was taken. Good luck with your acting career, Wickenden—or not.

Thandiwe Newton in a grey sleeveless dress, wearing red lipstick and crystal earrings, poses against a pink background
Arts + Culture

What's in A Name: How African Names Get Lost in Translation

From NBA stars to Grammy nominees, prominent Africans have often had their names misspelled or mispronounced. While some have pushed back and reclaimed it, others embrace it.

A man stands on a stage, wearing a denim jacket and pants while holding up a hand fan.
News

With “Sade,” Adekunle Gold Challenged The Nigerian Music Industry

As “Sade” turns 10, we take a look at how Adekunle Gold provided an alternative template to being a Nigerian superstar by making music with soul and commercial merits.