British Airways Denied Joel Madden Because Of Tattoos
Joel Madden was in SHOCK after British Airways wouldn't let him board a flight with his tattoos showing. He was forced to cover up in a long sleeve shirt.
I don't get it...why do the airlines even care if people have tattoos...it's not like ink is a threat to national security. :)
Joel twittered from the airport,
Was just told by a british air person I can't get on the plane till I cover my tatts. Should I fight the power?
I really actually am in shock, he won't let me on the plane till I put long sleeves on and another BA rep is disagreeing.
He later blogged,
"I still can't
believe Brit Air discriminated me for tatts. Unheard of. the guy was
literally disgusted by me. I'm gonna write a letter!!
I did end up covering my tats. It's not my style to cause a
scene, I just had a convo with the BA guy, told him how it was
discrimination."
Yes I
covered up to board the BA flight. I didn't want to miss it. And
honestly I was embarrassed all the people were staring and laughing!
It's not in the rules that I can find. My tatts arent offensive.
Looking into it. I havent felt this small since the first time i asked
nic (partner Nicole Richie) out."
And Nicole also twitter'ed about the incident.
"That's the
craziest story I've ever heard. It's sad there is still such
discrimination in this world. PS all of joel madden's tattoos are
spiritual. Since when is expressing your love for God & family
against what British Airways stands for?"
This isn't great publicity for British Airways, I wonder if they'll release an apology statement.
Do you think they should? Is it OK for an airline to make someone cover up their tattoos?
Photos by INF.
28740 points
That's sickening. British Airways should be ashamed. They are just ignorant.
8175 points
That is just wrong. and yes he should fight the right. is no one's business what you do with your body.
I am definitely surprised to hear of behavior like this from Britain, of all places... not that I think it's excusable in any case, but it's not like Britain is overly conservative or anything - I mean, give me a break. This is the place that is home to Amy Whinehouse, Lily Allen, and Pete Doherty for crimony's sake.
5325 points
That's ridiculous. Some airline employee was on a serious power trip he had no right to be on. Joel shouldn't let it drop. If they do it to him, they'll do it to someone else who doesn't have the money or fame to do anything about it. It may just be over silly tattoos, but it's the principle of the whole thing.
Who would you rather NOT get on a plane with, Joel Madden or Keith Richards?
33738 points
I hope he doesn't let it drop. That's total discrimination. :(
785 points
That is freaking stupid, whoever did this at British Airways is probably going to get fired, and they'll release a statement saying this was an individual and not company policy. Maybe-!
510 points
It sounds so foolish, I wonder if its the entire story.
There is a dress code for first class on British airways , which is clearly stated when you get your ticket , The same kind of dress code that exists when you go to a posh restaurant or hotel ....
If you want to be a hick and wear a vest go on a different airline ....
would you want to sit next to a guy with no shirt on at a restaurant ????
Even shops have a dress code .
Who said he wasn't wearing a shirt???? Its his ARMS that were exposed, not his chest. Suppose he did abide by the dress code and chose to wear a short sleeved shirt and a tie? Oh my gosh, the tattoos would STILL show! Its called D..E..S..C..R..I..M..I..N..A..T..I..O..N!!!!!!!!
Short sleeved shirt AND a tie? Now that's just tasteless....
Like everywhere else, he just has to accept that not everybody likes the idea of somebody wearing sleeveless netunderwear showing hairy chests and tattoos.
Oh please, next time call 1-800-WAHWAHWAH
Okay.....I never comment on these things but I couldn't NOT comment on this one...I work for british airways in London and there is absolutely NO-WAY this would have happened at our main base/flagship terminal in heathrow...... we would never not board a passenger because how they are dressed, especially if traveling in business or FIRST class which is where joel was likely to be, the only thing we wouldn't do is to upgrade somebody dressed in casual clothes (sportswear, vests, denim etc) for free into these two upper classes.....but to me and the colleagues I mentioned this story too - what happened to Joel Madden is unheard of...He obviously came across an unprofessional person on a power-trip....and I find that sad as now this story has been broadcast over the internet and given our airline which we all work so hard for, a bad name. :-(
You work for an airline? You? But you sound, so...so...um - nevermind. :) I'll just never fly BA style. By the way, you love the word "Not" don't you?
3110 points
that's quite alright for me. i'm from a country which is used to a lot of tourists and sometimes the stewardess needs to tell some people to please at least close one button of their shirts b/c all that hairy sun-burned chests are just to much for people sitting next to you.
You're and idiot.
AhahahAHAHA - burrrrrrrrrrrrrrn!!!
Judging from your response, you're a bigger one.
That is most certainly discrimination! I would contact an attorney immediately! What next, no one will be allowed to board the flight if they have facial hair? What about oddly colored hair? Or perhaps the wrong colored eyes or skin. This is complete bullsh!t!
It's one thing to request that large skin canvasses filled with valuable art be covered up from sun and prying eyes, it is another to publicly shame the painted man - and for an on-shift employee to express disgust at an cash paying strangercustomer!
You are soooooo right!
995 points
I seriously hope files a law suit really. I have tattoos and I refuse to let anyone hold me back from anything because of them. They are a body art of expression. They are my life story. Doesnt make me trashy or a hick and if I'm doing anything wrong I shouldnt not be allowed to do something!
Whatever you say...
Very strange ! Wonder if they would have banned the very heavily tattooed David Beckham? He def should complain !
That's so screwed up! Joel should so sue the, or SOMETHING! That ttly sucks
THIS IS NOT DISCRIMINATION! MOST PPL WRITING I WOULD IMAGINE HAVE NEVER FLOWN IN FIRST CLASS. IM NOT SURE HOW US AIRLINES OPERATE, HOWEVER I WORK FOR A CANADIAN AIRLINE AND WE ARE VERY STRICT. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE CHARTERS. I HAPPEN TO BE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT NOT FOR BRITISH AIRLINES THOUGH. FIRST CLASS HAS A DRESS CODE. MANDATORY DRESS CODE "BUSINESS CASUAL" YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR: SHORT SHORTS, CUT OFF SHORTS, BELLY TOPS, TANK TOPS, ANY BEACH WEAR, YOU CANNOT BE SLOPPY OR OVEREXPOSED. AIRLINES GET MOST OF THEIR BUSINESS FOR FIRST CLASS FROM BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THESE LONG FLIGHTS AND DO NOT WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO LOOK A MESS. IVE HAD OTHER PASSENGERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS THAT WOULD SEEM PERFECTLY NORMAL TO YOU, HOWEVER IF THEY ARE PAYING $10 000 FOR A TICKET YOU OBLIGE THEM. PEOPLE WRITE LETTERS AND COMPLAIN ABOUT PIERCINGS, BAGGY CLOTHES, TOO MUCH JEWELLERY, GOTHS WHO "SCARE" THEM, ESPECIALLY OLD PEOPLE, THEY WILL EVEN SAY SOMETHING TO THE OTHER PASSENGER. BREASTFEEDING- COVER YOURSELF UP. A LOT OF PASSENGERS COME FROM A CULTURE WHERE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A WOMAN TO BE EXPOSED IN FRONT OF A MAN. BEING IN FIRST CLASS IS EXACTLY LIKE BEING IN A FANCY RESTAURANT, ITS NOT JUST BETTER FOOD AND A GREAT AMBIENCE THERE ARE RULES!!
5325 points
So, let me get this straight. Because people are rich, it's not discrimination? You can dip a pile of sh!t in gold and wrap a bow around it, at the end of the day it's still sh!t. Just because you write discrimination into the rules and regulations (and in this case, it wasn't!) doesn't make it okay. I hate elitists.
go and try to walk around any shop without a shirt on and see how far you get , are shops elitists ??..go and try and get into a good restaurant in a hulck hogan vest and see how far you get , is that discrimination ???,try and get into a casino anywhere in the world except las Vegas if you don't dress to the standards and see how far you get ... its not discrimination its standards
There is a difference btwn not wearing a shirt and having tattoos on your arm exposed because you are not wearing long sleeves. Don't even try to compare the two. There was no mention of his being dressed inappropriately for the flight, so I have no idea why this argument has even come into play. It IS discrimination, regardless of how you slice it. If people don't like someone's tattoos, then DON'T look at them. Now how hard was that?
molly. you may be right. it's still shit,, but i guess that's the reality in today's world.. i hate elitists too.
Interesting. So only a portion of the people forking over all that cash for their first class ticket have rights? A dress code for an airplane? Thank goodness I figured out a long time ago that driving or taking the train were the way to travel across the country because airlines are NOTHING but scams. Prices go up, service goes down. And along comes an employee of the industry who not only YELLS at everyone, but also attempts to shove their morals onto the rest of the population. Tsk, tsk.
This is INSANE and another reason I'm taking my last flight with BA in May (to use up airmiles!) as they have NO understanding of human interaction let alone customer service.
Frankly, I'm embarrassed to tell people I'm British, especially if that's supposedly the airline that represents the UK. I hope Joel boycotts British Airways and I'll be right there with him. They don't deserve anyone's business, whether First, Business or economy class.
I hope that idiot who told him to cover up gets fired or can one only discriminate against tattood people not idiots?!?!
Dress code
General
BA has a dress code which is applied to rebate passengers. Please ensure that your attire is appropriate for the cabin of eligibility.
Seat allocation will depend on how you present yourself. If your attire is inappropriate for the cabin of eligibility, you will be seated in a lower cabin, or may be refused travel.
If there is a need on the day to upgrade on departure to a cabin higher than your cabin of eligibility, those who do not comply with the dress code applicable to the available cabin will not be considered for an upgrade.
Most airline non-rev dress codes call for a tie for men for first class, but business casual is almost always acceptable (99.9999% OK). A collared shirt (polo/golf/dress/etc), non-jeans, non-shorts, and non-tennis shoes/flipflops/etc would work for business casual.
This is nothing new. Most airlines have this. I know Virgin does. What I find interesting about this story is it does not say what airport his flight was departing and arriving too. I know that there is also a dress code for the VIP clubs at airports. I totally agree that it is not discrimination, it might seem like that but with all of the different airlines out there, if you don't agree with one, fly another. I worked in a top end hotel in London, and we turned some people away from the restaurant because of their dress and some of these people were pretty famous. The british like their rules.
Why does everyone keep talking about dress code? It was never said that he wasn't in dress code, he was told by the employee to cover up his tattoos. The tattoos have nothing to do with the clothes
Brithish Airways are one of the worsed airlines that I have ever travelled with! They wanted my husband to wake me and our sleeping baby up so the person behind us could have more room while eating - this meal was served after we boarded a flight at midnight - so nothing surprises me.
1055 points
such a cute comment about him feeling small asking out nicole
food & clothes blog
omg ... are they serious... Poor Joel.... GO GET EM JOEL....!!!!!!!!!!!!
132760 points
that is so mean!
Lordy, its not discrimination.... You can't walk onto first class or business class in your dirty old wifebeater and tatty jeans. Most people know that. Even if you are slightly famous, the rules of etiquette cannot be thrown aside just for you... I doubt it was about the tats really, probably the lack of a collared shirt. Yes Joel, even YOU need to show some respect for others around you. Just goes to show, money and fame can't buy you class eh Nicole?
Ah, money doesn't buy you class. There are people of different culture on the aircrraft. Who cares how spiritual your tatts are. Wear a shirt on an aircraft. Nobody in first class ( or any class for that matter) wants to look at Joel's hairy pitts, catch a wiff of his body odour and generally be subjected to his body art for hours on end. Class is showing consideration for other people's sensibilities.
I had no ideas airlines had dress codes, but I kinda like the idea of them. As for rights, all any place can do is try to find the middle ground--somewhere between nudism and burkas, hopefully.
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