American actor Eric André said that he was “racially profiled” after he was stopped and searched when travelling through Melbourne airport.
“I got detained,” Eric began in an Instagram video.
“I got pulled out of a line-up and put in a special line in Melbourne where I was sniffed thoroughly by a dog.”
Eric, who starred in the Netflix special Eric Andre: Legalize Everything, told his followers that he was stopped in Terminal 2 following 25 hours of transit from New York via Los Angeles.
“It’s one of the many times I’ve been racially profiled at the airport,” he said.
“So this is a message for all Black, brown and Indigenous people travelling through Melbourne today, especially if you’re travelling Qantas International by Terminal 2, please be careful.
“They are searching Black, brown and Indigenous people.”
Eric requested that anyone who booked him for appearances in the future ensure that he doesn’t fly through Melbourne Airport, or to provide him with personal security.
“Please provide a police escort or some type of security escort for me or have me fly into Brisbane or Sydney directly,” André said.
“I do not feel safe in the Melbourne Airport. 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,” he continued.
“I shouldn’t be made to feel that I am not accepted by entering a country. Shame on the people at the Melbourne Airport that have this cockamamie procedure.
“I doubt it yields any safer world for anybody in Melbourne or Australia. I’d love to dig up the statistics on what is coming out of that program.”
“It has nothing to do with safety. It has everything to do with racial harassment,” he claimed.
Reactions to Eric Andre’s experience at Melbourne airport
Eric’s fans took to his comments section to show their support.
“The fact that he posted this just tells me how bad the experience was, I’ve never seen Eric be so serious. Hope he gets sent all the info he needs,” one person commented.
“I’m so sorry that happened Eric. Melbourne is one of the most accepting states of all nationalities so I’m very pissed off and hurt that this happened to you. It’s not ok,” another commented.
The official Melbourne Airport Instagram page also responded to Eric in the comments section.
“Melbourne Airport does not tolerate racism in any form,” the reply began.
“We are following up your complaint with the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) who are in charge of processing all international arrivals at Melbourne Airport and other Australian international gateways.
“Melbourne Airport is proudly the gateway to one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
“We welcome ALL passengers to Melbourne, and we expect everyone to be treated equally.”
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