Comedian and Oscar-winning actress Mo’Nique was on her way to New York when she got kicked off her United flight back in 2006…over a dispute about her hair dryer. Mo’Nique’s hairstylist, who had been seated in coach, was trying to store the actress’ hair dryer in her overhead bin in first class. After a flight attendant questioned the stylist and who the appliance really belonged to, another crew member reportedly told Mo’Nique to “tell [her] people” that they will be booted the next time they have an attitude, saying “Since 9/11, we don’t play around.” After being asked to leave the plane, Mo’Nique went public with her outrage over the situation: “I felt like I was being treated like an animal. This happens to black people all the time, and they don’t have a voice. I have a voice.”
United issued a statement with a non-apology, saying they must act in the best interest of their customers. Somehow, we have a feeling that the passengers aboard wouldn’t have cared if a hair dryer was stored in its owner’s bin. Mo’Nique seems to have the last word here: “I won’t [fly United again], and I hope no other black person will fly them either.” Is this a racial issue, a class issue between first-class and coach passengers, or simply a misunderstanding? NewsFeed will let you decide that for yourself.