Singer Bebe Rexha has claimed she was threatened and stopped from boarding her flight for speaking Albanian to an airport security officer, adding that she was the victim of a hate crime.
The 34-year-old singer was travelling to the United States when she was stopped from boarding her flight at Munich International Airport in Germany on Saturday.
“The flight attendant on this Lufthansa flight is threatening me,” Rexha said in an Instagram story, wiping away tears.
She commented on the video, saying: “Lufthansa, I was threatened because I thought the security officer was Albanian. I spoke to him in Albanian and asked him where I could get my ticket and now he is preventing me from boarding the plane.”
Rexha, whose family is of North Macedonian and Albanian descent, said the man abused his authority when he failed to identify himself.
“I think this is a hate crime because I am Albanian,” she said in a second post. “He wouldn’t let me take his name. He kept mentally abusing me to make me feel like he was stronger than me.” [sic] “It was.”
The “I’m Good (Blue)” singer claimed that no Lufthansa employee offered her help while her attacker continued.
“None of the women at Lufthansa intervened or said anything. He didn’t tell me his name. But I just found out that he works for ATSG, a document control services company hired by Lufthansa,” Rexha added.
After her investigation, Rexha discovered that the unnamed employee worked for ATSG, an aviation services company hired by Lufthansa.
“I have never felt so emotionally drained,” Rexha said in an update. “Lufthansa has sent me a direct message, but I urge them to conduct a full investigation into who this man was who abused his power. ‘I’m sorry’ will not be enough this time.”
Along with posts detailing her travel nightmare, Rexha reshared an Instagram story from her mother’s account where she threatened legal action.
“Bibi was subjected to abusive behavior by an airport employee, which is a clear violation of my rights as a passenger,” Rexha’s mother, Bokurije Rexha, said on her account.
“The agent’s conduct was not only unprofessional, but also discriminatory and offensive, causing significant emotional distress,” the mother-in-law added. “This incident may warrant legal action for harassment, emotional distress, and potential violations of applicable consumer protection and anti-discrimination laws.”
Bokuri Rexha also turned on Lufthansa and Munich Airport to make sure her daughter got home safely, and the employee faced the consequences.
“Please investigate the officer who threatened a woman because she spoke in Albanian, take away your cameras,” said the older Rexha.
