DENVER (AP) — Renowned actor and comedian Marlon Wayans finds himself entangled in a legal battle, alleging unfair treatment and racial discrimination by an airline employee which led to a disturbance of peace citation.
In a court filing on Thursday, Wayans’ attorneys, representing the Black star, presented their case for dismissal stemming from a luggage dispute at Denver’s airport.
Denver police cited Wayans for disturbing the peace last June. As outlined in the court filing, a United Airlines gate agent prevented Wayans from boarding a flight to Kansas City with three bags. Despite complying with the airline policy and consolidating his luggage into two bags, the agent obstructed Wayans’ boarding attempt. Nevertheless, Wayans managed to board the plane but was later asked to deplane before takeoff.
According to the court filing, while Wayans was rearranging his luggage, the gate agent selectively allowed white passengers with three bags to board the flight. The filing included still photos from surveillance footage, highlighting white passengers’ bags with yellow arrows. Around 140 people boarded the flight, many of whom violated the airline’s policy by carrying three bags or oversized bags.
Wayans’ legal team argues that the gate agent engaged in racial discrimination, and by pursuing charges against Wayans, Denver prosecutors are perpetuating this discrimination and denying him equal protection under the law.
“The City of Denver’s stance disregards constitutional and social equity principles,” expressed Wayans’ lawyers.
City Attorney Kerry Tipper declined to comment on ongoing cases. United Airlines did not provide an immediate response to the inquiry.
In a June statement addressing the incident involving Wayans, United Airlines stated that an unidentified customer “pushed past” an employee at the jet bridge in an attempt to board the plane.
The court filing cites statements recorded on police body cameras where the gate agent claimed Wayans “shoved,” “pushed,” or “elbowed” him during boarding, which Wayans’ lawyers assert to be false. They assert that Wayans may have accidentally bumped shoulders with the agent while boarding the plane.
The police officers who investigated the incident expressed doubt regarding the commission of a crime, but the gate agent requested charges against Wayans.
